In Case You Missed It: Seafood Watch's "Super Green" List

When I first started trying to choose seafood according to the Monterey Bay AquariumSeafood Watch list, I thought it was awfully restrictive. Over time, however, I began to wish for a clearer, even more restrictive list that would make it easier to choose my seafood based both on the impact on ocean health and my family's health. Well, the aquarium has come through. In their own words:

"The Monterey Bay Aquarium has identified seafood that is "Super Green," meaning that it is good for human health and does not harm the oceans. The Super Green list highlights products that are currently on the Seafood Watch "Best Choices" (green) list, are low in environmental contaminants and are good sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

"This effort draws from experts in human health, notably scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The Monterey Bay Aquarium will continue to work with these organizations to balance the health and environmental attributes of seafood.

"The Super Green list includes seafood that meets the following three criteria:

* Low levels of contaminants (below 216 parts per billion [ppb] mercury and 11 ppb PCBs)
* The daily minimum of omega-3s (at least 250 milligrams per day [mg/d])
* Classified as a Seafood Watch "Best Choice" (green)

The best of the best (as of October 2009)
Albacore Tuna (troll- or pole-caught, from the U.S. or British Columbia)
Mussels (farmed)
Oysters (farmed)
Pacific Sardines (wild-caught)
Pink Shrimp (wild-caught, from Oregon)
Rainbow Trout (farmed)
Salmon (wild-caught, from Alaska)
Spot Prawns (wild-caught, from British Columbia)

Other Healthy "Best Choices"
Arctic Char (farmed)
Bay Scallops (farmed)
Crayfish (farmed, from the U.S.)
Dungeness Crab (wild-caught, from California, Oregon or Washington)
Longfin Squid (wild-caught, from the U.S. Atlantic)
Pacific Cod (longline-caught, from Alaska)"