Tanks for the Memories

As a former Twin Citizen now working for Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, I was delighted to see some of our recommendations in January’s Gastronomer (“Go Fish,” by Dan Gilchrist). Sushi is no longer a coastal phenomenon. Gilchrist got it right with our “bad news” about the bluefin tuna and farmed salmon: we suggest you avoid them; bluefin (called toro at sushi bars) are severely overfished, and salmon farms may pollute coastal waters. But, as a sushi lover, I was pained that you left out our “good news”: Many sushi choices, including yellowfin tuna (maguro), albacore tuna (shiro maguro), squid (ika), crab (kani), and even that imitation crab in your California roll (made from pollock fish) all earn our environmental go-ahead. We support sustainable fishing—personally, I want my favorite sushi fish to be around now and in the future. We urge consumers to ask where their fish comes from and how it was caught; our program publishes a handy consumer guide you can carry in your wallet, if you want a little extra help on “eating green.” You can download the card off our website at http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp

Alice Cascorbi
Fisheries Research Biologist
Seafood Watch Program
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey, California