Sustainable AND Healthy Seafood

Tim Fitzgerald

About Environmental Defense Fund

• Founded in 1967, we are a leading national nonprofit organization representing more than 700,000 members, with more Ph.D. scientists and economists than any similar organization.

• Oceans Program works to restore fisheries to abundance and protect important places in the ocean in the U.S., Latin America, Caribbean and Europe.

EDF’s rationale • Most people know very little about where

their fish is from or how it’s produced

• Seafood is ‘different’ than other proteins

• Sustainability is important, but most consumers are more concerned w/ health

• Fish consumption has clear health benefits, but some species offer risks

• Nuance is difficult, but essential

EDF history: Seafood & health 2001: Launch first Seafood Selector consumer guide

2004: Add consumption advice to Seafood Selector

2005: Collaborations with SeaWeb, Ecofish, Wegmans

2006: Addition of omega-3 recs to Seafood Selector

2008-9: Work w/ MBA & HSPH on consistent messaging

2010: Peer reviewed analysis of BP seafood protocols

2011: Supplemental Gulf seafood safety testing

2010-present: Hg partnership with Stonybrook

Current and previous partners

Ecological Impact

Health Risks Health

Benefits

The Seafood “Sweet Spot”

CASE STUDY: EDF Hg database • Developed over 8 years • Combine numerous disparate

data sources into one comprehensive resource

• Examine trends and variability in [Hg] in domestic and imported seafood items

• ID knowledge gaps • Compare findings with FDA

monitoring program data

CASE STUDY: EDF Hg database

# Taxa

# Sources

% Gov’t Sources

% Domestic Fish and

Shellfish**

Temp. Range

Geogr. Range

EDF Hg DB

647 ~360* ~65% 42% of obs. 1878-2011

Global

FDA 89 1 100% NA 1991-2004

Global (limited)

NMFS ~200 1 100% 100% 1971-1978

U.S.

EPA (e.g., EMAP) ~150 ~9 prgs 100% 100%

1990-2006

U.S.

CASE STUDY: EDF Hg database

EPA/FDA Mercury Advice

DO NOT EAT (1 ppm) Shark Swordfish King Mackerel Tilefish

ONCE PER WEEK Albacore Tuna (~0.31 ppm)

Species Hg (ppm) Marlin 1.40 Cobia 0.74 Bluefin tuna 0.73 Opah/moonfish 0.62 Bigeye tuna 0.58 Escolar 0.58 Wahoo 0.49 Orange roughy 0.48 Spanish mack. 0.46 Chilean seabass 0.40 Spotted seatrout 0.40 Grouper 0.38 Lingcod 0.36 Bluefish 0.34 Sturgeon 0.34

CASE STUDY: Gulf seafood safety

CASE STUDY: Gulf seafood safety

Our Message 1. Fish is good for you

2. Environmental sustainability is important

3. Some species should be eaten in moderation, or for some sensitive populations, avoided

4. There are lots of ways to maximize benefit and minimize risk

5. Variety Variety Variety