Sushi, But Make It Sustainable

I love sushi. I generally don’t eat any meat, but when I do, it’ll be sushi! I guess you can call me a mostly-vegetarian with a side of pescatarian. One of the things that makes sushi so great though is that there is something for everyone - from vegetarians to meat eaters alike. It also is great for any occasion, celebrations, date-nights, long lunches, girls’ night, or even solo dining. As you, dear savvy reader know though, the fishing industry is often plagued with unsustainable practices. That is why we turned to a great resource when it comes to sustainable fish options, oceana.org. So the next time you want to indulge in a sushi night, consider these 8 tips they have to offer:

Pay Attention to the Type of Fish

Certain fish are just more sustainable than others. For example, Atlantic Halibut, Atlantic Cod, And Atlantic Salmon are all considered endangered and therefore not sustainable. To find out more about which fish to avoid, and which ones are the best choice, we love this Good Fish Guide by the Marine Conservation Society.

Farm-Raised = No No 

Fish farms create pollution, in addition to often being given unapproved antibiotics to prevent diseases. I say no thank you to that, and you should too! Select sushi that you know the fish have been wild caught.

Ask Yourself: How and Where Is the Shellfish I Am Eating Caught?

Like regular fish, knowing how and where shellfish is caught is important for your sustainable sushi selection. Buy as local as possible and say no to shellfish caught by dredges.

3 Words: Local, Local, Local

We’ve said this before, but fish caught locally is so much more sustainable than imported fish. An additional plus - it’s more likely to be fresh! 

Research the Restaurant

Look for Seafood Watch Certified Restaurants. They already know which fish are on the “red” list, so you can be confident that what you are being served is the sustainable option.

Ask the Chef Questions

One thing I learned during my stint as a waitress at a sushi restaurant in college is that sushi chefs are extremely knowledgeable and take pride in what they do. They are a great resource if you are needing more information about what sushi is sustainable, so don’t be afraid to ask them questions! 

Take Responsibility 

Without you doing this and making an active choice to select the sushi you know is more sustainable, then the status quo won’t be broken and our oceans will continue to be overfished. Collectively, we can make a difference!

Moral of this story? You can have your sushi and eat it too! Bon appetit 🍣

Photo by Jakub Dziubak on Unsplash