12 Fish You Should Avoid
December 10, 2013- As oceans become more polluted and stocks of wild fish dwindle, it’s getting harder to know which fish are both safe and sustainable.
“Good fish” lists can change yearly, when stocks rebound or get depleted, but there are certain fish that you should always avoid -- no matter what.
Prevention reports that the nonprofit Food and Water Watch researched varieties of fish, how they are harvested and the levels of toxic contaminants in the fish. These are the 12 fish, they determined, we should steer clear of:
1. Imported Catfish: Nearly 90% of catfish imported to the U.S. comes from Vietnam, where use of antibiotics that are banned in the U.S. is widespread. Instead, stick with domestic, farm-raised catfish because it’s responsibly farmed and plentiful. Or try Asian carp, an invasive species that's endangering the Great Lakes ecosystem.
2. Caviar: Caviar from beluga and wild-caught sturgeon are susceptible to overfishing, but the species are also being threatened by an increase in dam building. Opt for fish eggs from American Lake Sturgeon or American Hackleback/Shovelnose Sturgeon caviar from the Mississippi River system.
3. Atlantic Cod: This one is vital to the economic health of New England fishermen, but chronic mismanagement by the National Marine Fisheries Service and low stocks make it difficult to recommend. Instead go for Pacific cod.
4. American Eel: Also called yellow or silver eel, this fish, which often winds up in sushi, is highly contaminated with PCBs and mercury. Opt for Atlantic- or Pacific-caught squid instead.
5. Imported Shrimp: Imported farmed shrimp comes with a bevy of contaminants: antibiotics, residues from chemicals used to clean pens, filth like mouse hair and insects. Instead look for domestic shrimp.
6. Atlantic Flatfish: This group includes flounder, sole, and halibut caught off the Atlantic coast. They are heavily contaminated and overfished. However, Pacific halibut seems to be doing well.
7. Atlantic Salmon: It’s illegal to catch wild Atlantic salmon because fish stocks are low. Also, the FDA is moving forward with approving genetically engineered salmon to be sold, unlabeled, to consumers. Currently, all fish labeled "Atlantic salmon" comes from fish farms. Opt for wild Alaskan salmon.
8. Imported King Crab: Most imported king crab comes from Russia, where limits on fish harvests aren't strongly enforced. Imported king crab is often misnamed Alaskan king crab. When you shop for king crab, go domestic.
9. Shark: These predatory fish are extremely high in mercury. Instead go for Pacific halibut and Atlantic mackerel.
10. Orange Roughy: It has high levels of mercury, and orange roughy also can take between 20 and 40 years to reach full maturity, which makes it difficult for populations to recover from overfishing. There are no fisheries of orange roughy that are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council. Opt for yellow snapper or domestic catfish to get the same texture as orange roughy.
11. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna: Atlantic bluefin tuna has the some of the highest levels of mercury of any type of tuna. To top it off, bluefin tuna are severely overharvested. Consider giving tuna up entirely and switching to a healthy alternative, such as Alaska wild-caught salmon.
12. Chilean Sea Bass: Most Chilean sea bass comes from fishermen who have captured them illegally. The nonprofit Greenpeace estimates that, unless people stop eating this fish, the entire species could be extinct in five years. These fish are high in mercury, too. You can get the same texture with U.S. hook-and-line-caught haddock.
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