There is plenty of source information about sustainable seafood on the Internet. The question is what info is usable, and what is static. More importantly, where to find it without sifting through millions of Google hits.
Here is a list of some fairly reliable info I’ve cited in my research and blogs. You’ll find a range of statistics, interesting articles and guides that may be helpful.
- United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) Yearbook: Global view of wild and aquaculture production (latest year studied is 2012, though the recent report was issued Dec. 2014).
- UN FAO full State of Fisheries Report: UN’s full annual report (2014).
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch: Good all around site about challenges and solutions w/ wild caught and aquaculture fisheries.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Seafood Recommendations: The general go-to site for species-specific recommendations.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Fishwatch: NOAA’s site for overall national statistics.
- NOAA site on US imports: This specific URL takes you to analysis of US seafood imports.
- NOAA web page on US consumption. Good companion to UNFAO global consumption picture.
- Gulf of Maine Research Institute: Local researchers looking at sustainability issues and working with scientists, fishermen, dealers, processors and retailers to solve challenges and educate the community.
- Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association: Example of local communities working together to promote a healthy commercial fishery under close biologist’s monitoring to determine catch size and closures.
- Cape Ann Fresh Catch: Largest community supported fishery in the country. (full disclosure: Colles Stowell is a director with CAFC.)
- Blog on Pebble Mine: CAFC blog I wrote about the potentially devastating impact this mine would have on the world’s largest salmon fishery.
- Outside Magazine article: Interesting take on one author’s quest to find a way to eat seafood sustainably.
- Localcatch.org: Online resource for locating community supported fisheries and other direct seafood channels promoting local, sustainable choices.