My friend Susannah is a dietitian and we have been working together on a Healthy Family Meal presentation for our school district.  We were asking around to find out what issues families might want to learn about, from a health and ecological perspective.  Tuna was at the top of their list – people wondered how to navigate the grocery store aisle and select the “best” can on the shelves.

Image from scraptv.com

As you might expect, there is a ton of information “out there” but most of it is scientific jibberish and is difficult for the average over-extended parent to translate.  Have no fear – I think I got a handle on it, and am happy to share.

Here’s the lowdown on sustainability.

• If you want there to be tuna left in the oceans for your grandchildren to enjoy, you should eat pole-caught Albacore.
• The way that tuna is harvested matters – some techniques are less labor intensive for the fishermen, but result in lots of unintended casualties, such as dolphins, sea turtles and marine birds.
• “Line caught” is a misleading term – and if you see it on your can of tuna, you should be suspicious.  The best fishing technique is called “pole caught.” Picture a guy in yellow waterproof overalls at the back of the boat with a fishing pole.   They are looking for Albacore and throw back everything else.  Enough said.
• “Long Lines” are particularly pesky – they trail behind the boat, sometimes for miles, with hooks and lures throughout their entire length.  Yes, they catch tuna.  But they also catch lots of other critters that happen to get hooked or tangled.
• Bigeye and bluefin tuna are endangered.  Do not order them if you see them on a restaurant menu.  Ever.
• Remember, you are voting with your fork – and if you pay for something you don’t agree with, it will keep happening.

Here’s the lowdown on health.

• Smaller, younger fish have less toxins accumulated in their bodies.  So it makes sense that these fish contain less mercury and pcb’s and are healthier to eat.
• Albacore that are pole caught are young fish that forage closer to the surface.  This is the healthiest choice!
• Albacore that are caught on long lines are much larger fish, living deeper in the water – these fish contain more chemicals and are not as safe to eat.

Breaking down the vocabulary:

• Bycatch (as defined by the Monterey Bay Aquarium): unwanted fishes and animals caught accidentally in fishing gear and discarded overboard, dead or dying.
• Chunk White tuna is always albacore.  Don’t automatically grab it, though – check how it was harvested first.
• Chunk Light isn’t always albacore, and may not be harvested sustainably.  Look for cans labelled Skipjack, and you can feel good about buying those.
• Tongol tuna is not the same as Albacore tuna.  Over 90% of Tongol are found in the waters of Thailand, Indonesia, Iran and Malaysia.  In all of these locations, except for Malaysia, fishing regulations are not enforced.  So if you need an acceptable alternative to Albacore you can purchase Tongol from Malaysia.

If you are curious about the other types of seafood to enjoy or avoid, you can download your own Seafood Watch pocket guide.  There’s even an app for that.  Of course.

Before you head out to buy ingredients for dinner, I’ll leave you with this TED speech from chef Dan Barber.  Let’s call it food for thought.

Where do you buy fish for your family? We’d love to hear from you.