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
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.
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
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