Fish or Foe? What Seafood Is Better for You and the Environment

A greater number of people are adapting a "green" lifestyle to the way they eat, choosing foods that are better for the environment, like organic food. Not only do proponents of organic food say it tastes better and is more nutritionally sound, they say it is grown without chemical pesticides or other additives, making it a better choice for the environment.

That's fine for the food cultivated in and on the soil. But what about the food people enjoy from the sea? Are there ways to pick and choose among seafood, selecting species that are less likely to have high pollutant levels and positive ecological sustainability? Yes.

Environmental Defense, a Washington, D.C.-based organization, rated fish you'd commonly find at your local seafood store or supermarket fish counter. Here's a selection of what to choose and what to avoid.

Good Choices

These fish are healthy and eco-smart options.

* Dungeness crab: When harvested, only the large adult males are caught. This leaves plenty of crabs behind to propagate the species.

* Mahi-mahi: Mahi-mahi populations are considered very resilient because they grow and reproduce very quickly. There is also very low mercury contamination risk.

* Black cod: These Alaskan fish are usually caught with bottom long lines that don't harm other species or the ocean floor.

Maybe Reconsider

These fish are not as sound as the "good choices," so think again before buying.

* Orange roughy: A slow-growing and maturing fish. Schools can't recover quickly enough if they are overfished, which they usually are.

* Bluefin tuna: This slow-growing fish is a favorite for sushi. But watch out because it usually contains mercury.

* Monkfish: Populations of monkfish are dwindling. Also, dredging fishing methods are terrible for the ocean environment.

Seafood to Avoid

These fish are typically dangerous to eat because of contamination.

* Bluefish: This species typically contains mercury, PCBs and pesticides.

* Swordfish: Another fish high in mercury.

* Atlantic salmon: These fish are often raised in fish farms that pollute nearby waterways. They can also contain PCBs, pesticides and dioxin, which is a super-toxic chemical.