This World Oceans Day, we want to highlight ways everyone and anyone can make an impact on the ocean. When you choose certified sustainable seafood, specifically products featuring the MSC blue fish label, you’re helping to encourage more ocean-friendly fishing, creating a ripple effect that will lead to positive changes for our ocean.
Knowing what seafood to pick can be a challenge—mainly because there are so many great options to explore! This year, we've compiled a special sustainable seafood starter kit featuring many partner items you can find at your local grocery store or online retailer.
Canned and Pouched Seafood Products
American Tuna - Canned Albacore Tuna
Want to make a tuna melt for two? Founded by six fishing families from San Diego, American Tuna is committed to providing high quality, sustainable canned tuna. They achieved MSC certification in 2010, and exclusively source pole & line albacore tuna from the American Albacore Fishing Association. In addition to sourcing only sustainably caught seafood, American Tuna utilizes 100% of the fish they catch – anything that doesn’t make it into a can is used as bait in other fisheries, or is turned into fertilizer, protein supplements, fish oil supplements, and more!
You can find them on Instagram and Twitter.
Bar Harbor - Natural Clam Juice
Love a good seafood paella or chowder? Check out Bar Harbor’s soups, broths, and even clam juice! For over 100 years, Bar Harbor Foods has committed to being a good steward of its resources, from coastal Maine where they are based, all the way to Alaska where some of their other products are sourced. Their sustainability policy is simple: they source from MSC certified fisheries and have been CoC** certified since 2008.
You can find them on Twitter.
**MSC Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard ensures that products from MSC certified sustainable fisheries are fully traceable throughout the supply chain. To use the MSC blue fish label, companies must have a valid CoC certificate.
Wild Selections - Pouched Albacore Tuna
Want to elevate your salad with delicious flakey tuna? Bumble Bee Food’s Wild Selections has been committed to healthy oceans from the very beginning. Since 2013, they’ve donated more than $1 million to World Wildlife Fund to help protect the oceans and have been MSC certified since 2016.
You can find them on Instagram and Facebook.
Chicken of the Sea - Pouched Pink Salmon
Looking for a quick, tasty protein on the go? Try Chicken of the Sea’s pouched salmon – perfect for outdoor adventures. Stewardship is deeply embedded in the Chicken of the Sea brand. They’ve been committed to sustainable seafood for generations and have been MSC certified since 2016. They’re on a path to sourcing 100% of their branded tuna from fisheries engaged with the MSC.
You can find them on Twitter and Facebook.
Blue Harbor Fish Co. - Pouched Albacore Tuna
Bored of traditional burgers? Why not try making a tuna burger! Blue Harbor Fish Co is dedicated to providing delicious, sustainable salmon and albacore tuna. All their seafood is MSC certified, and they’ve been certified since 2016.
You can find them on Facebook and Instagram.
Crown Prince - Tinned Smoked Kipper Snacks
Ready to explore new tinned seafood? Try some kipper snacks (smoked herring filets)! Crown Prince has been an MSC certified partner since 2011 and is committed to working only with suppliers who practice environmentally and socially responsible business. Beyond their MSC certification, Crown Prince works with its suppliers to reduce waste, water, and energy usage, and greenhouse gas emissions, while increasing their recycling efforts.
You can find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Vital Choice - Canned Skipjack Tuna
Vital Choice believes that healthy, delicious food shouldn’t harm the planet. Initially focused on wild Alaskan salmon, they’ve since expanded to provide customers with sustainable seafood from around the world. MSC certified since 2008, they also donate a portion of their profits to planet-protecting programs.
You can find them on Facebook and Instagram.
Henry & Lisa's - Tinned Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Want to take your avocado toast to a new level? Try adding Henry & Lisa’s tinned sardines. Henry & Lisa’s Natural Seafood line is 100% certified sustainable seafood across their full range of products. EcoFish, Henry & Lisa’s parent company, has long demonstrated their commitment to sourcing sustainable seafood and was the first company in the United States to achieve MSC supply chain certification in 2001.
You can find them on Twitter and Facebook.
Great Value - Canned Chunk Light Tuna in Water
Already at Walmart? Check their canned goods aisle! Customers count on Walmart to deliver affordable products in a way that helps preserve the planet. Through its commitment to advancing sustainability, Walmart collaborates with suppliers and others to inspire positive change throughout supply chains. In an effort to help reduce overfishing and support healthy oceans, as of July 2020, Walmart is moving to source its U.S. stores Great Value canned tuna as either certified by the MSC or, based upon supplier reports, from a time-bound Fishery Improvement Project actively working towards certification.
You can find them on Instagram and Facebook.
Frozen and Refrigerated Seafood Products
Trans-Ocean - Crab Classic Surimi
Want to get creative with surimi? Over the course of its 35 years in the seafood industry, Trans-Ocean has been a strong supporter of sustainable fisheries management. Achieving MSC certification in 2006, the MSC blue fish label is found on a wide range of products, including all of its Crab Classic, Simply Surimi and Seafood Snackers lines. In addition to taking its role as ocean stewards seriously, Trans-Ocean is also committed to safe and healthy workspaces, meeting the industry’s highest standard for food safety and successfully transitioning its facilities to be certified gluten-free.
You can find them on Instagram and Facebook at Crab Classic and Simply Surimi Seafood.
Ducktrap - Various Smoked Salmons
Love adding lox to your bagel? Ducktrap is a leader in the smoked seafood industry, serving seafood that’s still smoked in small batches. MSC certified since 2016, Ducktrap is committed to sourcing only the best seafood there is and enhancing it with high quality seasonings and smoking wood.
You can find them on Twitter and Facebook.
Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods - Fish Sticks
Want an easy pre-prepped meal for a quick dinner? Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods® was founded by two heart surgeons in 1994 with the mission to bring healthy and delicious frozen food to everyone. Motivated by what they saw in their practice, they set out on a mission to encourage sensible eating. They achieved MSC certification in 2012 and all their seafood products are made with wild-caught MSC certified sustainable wild Alaska pollock.
You can find them on Facebook and Instagram.
Beyond Sustainable Seafood
United by Blue - Packable Tote
Bring your reusable bags! Show your support for a healthy ocean with this ocean or earth-patterned tote from our friends at United by Blue.
Happy Earth Apparel - Bamboo Utensil Travel Set
Planning a picnic or going camping? Ditch plastic utensils to prevent plastic pollution and bring reusable ones instead! Check out this great bamboo set from the folks over at Happy Earth Apparel.
Bart van Olphen - Tinned Fish Cookbook
Need inspiration for creating banquet-worthy meals with your canned seafood? Take a look at this awesome 'Tinned Fish Cookbook' from master chef, sustainable seafood advocate, and global MSC ambassador Bart van Olphen.