2020-04-01 Real Simple

Here’s the Catch

When You’re Shopping

at the Fish Counter

THE PERK

The opportunity to talk with an expert and buy the

fish that’s the freshest and most abundant that day

HOW TO CHOOSE THE GOOD STUFF

• The beauty of shopping at the fish counter—
  at a supermarket, seafood shop, or farmers
  market—is that there’s usually a person there
  to answer questions about the fish. Start with
  a simple “Do you sell sustainable seafood?”
  Then ask, “What do you recommend?”


• Download the Monterey Bay Aquarium
  Seafood Watch app (free; iOS and Android),
  which groups species into the categories
  “Best Choices,” “Good Alternatives,” and “Avoid,”
  and look up the fish you see at the counter.
  (This app also comes in handy at restaurants.)
  Some grocery store chains, including Whole
  Foods, work with Seafood Watch, so the fish
  for sale will already be labeled.

FOR A VIRTUALLY GUARANTEED

SUSTAINABLE PICK

Take home farmed mussels, clams, oysters,

or scallops, which help balance the nutrients

in our waterways. Translation: Just by existing,

they make the ocean healthier. They’re also

quick to cook and delicious over pasta.

When You’re Shopping

the Freezer Aisle

THE PERKS

Lots of variety; low prices; less chance of waste,

since the fish won’t go bad in your fridge (not

sustainable!); and the ability to learn about the

product’s origins on the label

HOW TO CHOOSE THE GOOD STUFF

• Look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC),
  Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), or
  Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) logo on the
  packaging (see “Sustainability Shortcut,” oppo-
  site page). These organizations vet fisheries,
  and their stamps of approval indicate that the
  seafood came from a sustainable source.


• If you can’t find a logo, default to domestic
  seafood. American fisheries and aquaculture
  have made good strides toward sustainability.


• Store brands are often a smart bet. Chains
  like Safeway, Whole Foods, and Stop & Shop
  have effective sustainability programs.

BUY FROZEN SHRIMP

Most “fresh” shrimp is actually thawed from

frozen, giving it a much shorter fridge life.

Look for U.S. wild shrimp or any bag with

one of the sustainability logos.

Things Cooks Know

OUR EXPERTS

RYAN BIGELOW, SENIOR

PROGRAM MANAGER

FOR MONTEREY BAY

AQUARIUM’S

SEAFOOD WATCH

BARTON SEAVER, CHEF,

AUTHOR OF THE JOY OF

SEAFOOD, AND LEAD

INSTRUCTOR FOR

SEAFOODLITERACY.COM

MONTEREY

B AY

AQUARIUM

SEAFOOD

WATCH APP

Hover your

phone’s camera

here to download

the app.

SEAFOOD IS HEALTHY, BUT NOT ALL PICKS ARE SUSTAINABLE. FOLLOW THESE TIPS

FOR BRINGING HOME FISH THAT YOU—AND THE OCEANS—CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT.

By Jenna Helwig

Illustrations by Adam Cruft

THE REALIST

44 REAL SIMPLE APRIL 2020

0420RSC.V1.indd 44 FINAL 2/20/20 3:23 PM