<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for A new tool for navigating around overfishing and mercury taint]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by enviroperk http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-03-tool-overfish-mercury/ Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:51:51 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-03-tool-overfish-mercury/1 Thanks for the chart. This fish-shopping is a complicated business.

]]> Thanks for the chart. This fish-shopping is a complicated business.

]]> Comment #2 by Matt Rosenberg http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-03-tool-overfish-mercury/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:41:54 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-03-tool-overfish-mercury/2 Interesting chart but I think it's a bit confusing and I am not sure it's easy for most people to understand when you compare it with a simple list that can be carried in the wallet. I completely agree that an iPhone Ap would be great!

it also differs from The Environmental Defense Fund on a number of fish. King and Spanish Mackerel are not the same. King should not be eaten at all while Spanish can be eaten on a limited basis (http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=17694) and Conger eel have enogh toxins that they should not be placed on the best part of the toxins section, middle would be more accurate.

Another useful tool is from The Blue Ocean Institute. Just text the message FISH followed by the name of the fish you want to know about to 30644 and you will get a text back. If it's a red flag fish, they'll suggest alternatives.

]]> Interesting chart but I think it's a bit confusing and I am not sure it's easy for most people to understand when you compare it with a simple list that can be carried in the wallet. I completely agree that an iPhone Ap would be great!

it also differs from The Environmental Defense Fund on a number of fish. King and Spanish Mackerel are not the same. King should not be eaten at all while Spanish can be eaten on a limited basis (http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=17694) and Conger eel have enogh toxins that they should not be placed on the best part of the toxins section, middle would be more accurate.

Another useful tool is from The Blue Ocean Institute. Just text the message FISH followed by the name of the fish you want to know about to 30644 and you will get a text back. If it's a red flag fish, they'll suggest alternatives.

]]> Comment #3 by Rudie in Tucson http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-03-tool-overfish-mercury/ Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:44:38 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-03-tool-overfish-mercury/3 There is no question that this chart, and all the tools Seafood Watch has for people to use, are good things. But making sure your seafood is environmentally friendly, sustainable, free of toxins, etc. takes a lot more work than just consulting this chart or checking a phone app. When these charts first came out I was rather excited, but an article in Conservation Magazine changed all that. Impostor Fish is a great title for the story because mislabeling is just as common in the seafood industry, as overfishing and bycatch are.

Read it for yourself here: http://www.conservationmagazine.org/articles/v9n4/impostor-fish/

This means you need to take a lot more initiative in seeing where your seafood comes from. Sourcing seafood is hard, but it's absolutely necessary to know what you are getting. Buying from local sources (oyster farms, small fishing companies and the like), and not restaurants or large grocery stores who can't tell you where your seafood comes from, alleviates this problem somewhat. But regardless, towing the line between wanting a delicious seafood meal and promoting ocean conservaton and biodiversity, is going to take a lot more than handy seafood charts, guides and snazzy looking PDFs. It's a good step, but we got a long way to go.

]]> There is no question that this chart, and all the tools Seafood Watch has for people to use, are good things. But making sure your seafood is environmentally friendly, sustainable, free of toxins, etc. takes a lot more work than just consulting this chart or checking a phone app. When these charts first came out I was rather excited, but an article in Conservation Magazine changed all that. Impostor Fish is a great title for the story because mislabeling is just as common in the seafood industry, as overfishing and bycatch are.

Read it for yourself here: http://www.conservationmagazine.org/articles/v9n4/impostor-fish/

This means you need to take a lot more initiative in seeing where your seafood comes from. Sourcing seafood is hard, but it's absolutely necessary to know what you are getting. Buying from local sources (oyster farms, small fishing companies and the like), and not restaurants or large grocery stores who can't tell you where your seafood comes from, alleviates this problem somewhat. But regardless, towing the line between wanting a delicious seafood meal and promoting ocean conservaton and biodiversity, is going to take a lot more than handy seafood charts, guides and snazzy looking PDFs. It's a good step, but we got a long way to go.

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