The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program helps consumers and businesses make choices for healthy oceans

recommendations indicate which seafood items are "Best Choices," "Good Alternatives," and which ones you should "Avoid”

Seafood Watch recommendations are science-based, peer reviewed, and use ecosystem-based criteria

What is Seafood Watch?

Humans have been fishing the oceans for thousands of years, but over the past five decades technology has allowed us to fish farther, deeper and more efficiently than ever before.

Scientists estimate that we have removed as much as 90 percent of the large predatory fish (shark, swordfish and cod from the world's oceans).

Global catch of wild fish leveled off over 15 years ago and 85 percent of the world's fisheries are being harvested at capacity or are in decline.

Fish Resources

Support Sustainable seafood companies and restaurants (Whole Foods)

Use and share Seafood Watch pocket guides (iPhone and Android app)

Educate yourself

What Can We Do

Choose Your FishBEST CHOICES

Arctic Char (farmed)Bass: Striped (US hook & line, farmed) Catfish (US)Clams, Mussels, OystersCod: Atlantic (imported, hook & line) Crab: Dungeness & StoneCroaker: Atlantic (non-trawl)Haddock (US hook & line)Halibut: Pacific (US)Lobster: Spiny (CA, FL & Mexico) Salmon (AK)Scallops (farmed)Squid: Longfin (US)Swordfish (Canada & US harpoon, troll, pole)Tilapia (Ecuador & US)Trout: Rainbow (US farmed) Tuna: Albacore/White canned (Canada & US troll, pole) Tuna: Skipjack/Light canned (US troll, pole)Tuna: Yellowfin (US troll, pole)

AVOID Abalone (China & Japan)Caviar, Sturgeon (imported wild) Cod: Atlantic (Canada & US) Crab: Red King (Russia) Flounder (US)Hake: White (US)Halibut: AtlanticMahi Mahi (imported)Orange RoughySalmon: Atlantic (farmed) SharksShrimp (imported)Snapper: Red (US)Squid (imported)Swordfish (imported)Tuna: Albacore/White canned (except Canada & US troll, pole and US longline)Tuna: BluefinTuna: Skipjack/Light canned (except troll, pole and US longline) Tuna: Yellowfin (except troll, pole and US longline)

Choose Your FishGOOD ALTERNATIVES

Bluefish (US)Cod: Atlantic (imported)Crab: BlueCrab: King (US)HaddockHake (US)Lobster: AmericanMahi Mahi (US)Monkfish (US)Pollock: Alaska (US)Pollock: AtlanticScallops (wild)Sea Bass: Black (US Mid-Atlantic) Shrimp (Canada & US wild) Squid (US)Swordfish (US)Tilapia (China & Taiwan)Tuna: Albacore/White canned (US longline)Tuna: Skipjack/Light canned (imported troll, pole and US longline)Tuna: Yellowfin (imported troll, pole and US longline)

Compare Monterey Bay Seafood Watch to Four Fish

Monterey Bay Four Fish