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Mislabeled fish: Overfished or not? 12/11 ((This article is the last in a 3-part series adapted from the December 2011 Consumer Reports magazine.) Mislabeled fish 3-part series: Part one: What you don't know can hurt you | Part two: What you can do | Part three: Overfished or not? When shopping for fish, you should consider buying species that are abundant, well managed, fished or farmed in ways that minimize harm to the environment, and low in contaminants such as mercury and PCBs. Ideally, the perfect label or certification would address all of the above aspects of sustainability, plus it would verify species through DNA tests, and have no vested interest in the products it certifies. Each of the labels listed below are helpful or somewhat helpful, but not perfect. But each of the organizations can help in guiding you to sustainable seafood. Note that if fish are labeled “organic,” it is not necessarily meaningful because a USDA organic standard for seafood is still under development. For more information about each of the labels below, check the Greener Choices Eco-labels center. Monterey Bay Aquarium www.montereybayaquarium.org  This label is “Helpful” The Aquarium’s “Seafood Watch Pocket Guide,” available as a free download, grades species based on the use of sustainable fishing or farming methods. Species are marked as green (best choices), yellow (good alternatives), or red (avoid). It also provides information on mercury and other contaminants. Country of Origin www.ams.usda.gov/cool  This label is “Helpful” The label indicates geographic source and whether the seafood was wild or farm raised. Country of Origin labeling (COOL) is required by law for retailers such as full-line grocery stores, supermarkets, and club warehouse stores, but not for fish markets and restaurants. Dolphin Safe www.dolphinsafe.gov  This label is “Somewhat helpful” The logo may differ among products, and companies decide whether to follow the standard. It indicates that steps were taken to reduce the likelihood of catching, killing, or injuring dolphins while fishing for tuna. Marine Stewardship Council www.msc.org  This label is “Somewhat helpful” The certifying group is concerned with overfishing and sustainability of wild-caught seafood. Some species of MSC-certified fish have been documented at various points in the supply chain, in some cases by DNA testing. Safe Harbor www.safeharborfoods.com  This label is “Somewhat helpful” The label certifies that mercury content is below certain levels for each species, but those levels still may not be safe for pregnant women and young children. The certifying organization also checks for generic E. coli and salmonella in shellfish, and for certain types of radiation in fish from Japanese waters. The group visually confirms the species of fish samples that companies have sent it. Related links Mislabeled fish: Part One --What you don’t know can hurt you. 12/11 Mislabeled fish: Part Two --What you can do. 12/11 Using DNA to solve a mystery. 12/11 Sole searching: Have you seen this fish? 12/11 Mercury in tuna still a concern. 1/11 Seafood: green buying guide. 10/10 The trouble with salmon. 10/10 Mislabeled fish 3-part series: Part one: What you don't know can hurt you | Part two: What you can do | Part three: Overfished or not? |