| Oct 6, 2006
I must confess to only recently making a conscious effort to include more fish in my diet. Shellfish has always been a welcome addition to my dinner table – there’s little I love more than a plate of oysters, fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of sea salt. Even the minor tussle of separating crabmeat from the shell is an experience I quite enjoy. But fish, well, that was a different kettle, so to speak. However, now that I make sure at least one meal a week includes fish (two if I’m feeling on top of my game), I’ve found I’m faced with more than just the choice of what type to buy and how to cook it. There are questions relating to sustainability and fishing practices that I know very little about. So I was relieved when the Australian Marine Conservation Society sent out a copy of Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide – Expanded Edition. It lists the popular fish, shellfish and crustaceans that can be found at most seafood stores and places them under one of three sections – Say No, Think Twice and Better Choice. Say No are species that are considered overfished. Think Twice lists species that are prone to overfishing or caught using methods that cause damage to the marine environment or other species. A Better Choice, as its name would suggest, lists the options we should probably choose. The guide also provides some background information on fishing methods and aquaculture, seafood labelling and seafood imports, just to bring you up to speed on the topic. Very handy if, like me, the issue of responsible seafood decisions has only just become a concern. The guide can be bought online from www.marineconservation.org.au or freecall 1800 066 299. | 
