Smart Seafood Guide
Check out our interactive seafood guide.
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Questions to ask about your seafood
Where is it from?
Choose domestic over imported.
Is it caught or farmed locally?
Choose local foods over those shipped from far away.
Is it farmed or wild?
Try to choose wild, unless otherwise stated on our list of recommendations.
How is it caught?
Ask if the method has high bycatch or habitat damage – favor hook-and-line, troll, jig, and trap-caught fish.
How is it farmed?
When available, buy seafood that has been farmed in the United States in recirculating facilities. Tilapia, shrimp, seabream and cobia are examples of fish that are farmed this way.
Is it associated with any contaminants?
See our seafood contaminants factsheet for more information.
Methodology
Mercury and PCB contaminant information for the Smart Seafood Guide is drawn from Environmental Defense Fund’s Health Alert List. Environmental Defense calculates health advisories based on government databases and scientific studies Read More…
Disclaimer
These recommendations are intended as a general reference. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice, supplant any government warnings or otherwise prevent exposure to any health hazards associated with seafood. People should always follow proper acquisition, handling and cooking procedures of any seafood they prepare or consume. The devastating April 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is likely to impact availability of some seafood items on this card. For more information, see the latest government updates at http://bit.ly/gulfseafoodhttp://bit.ly/gulfNOAA