Five ways to help the ocean from your kitchen

We’re all experiencing uncertainty in these times and our ocean continues to face unprecedented pressure from overfishing, climate change and plastic pollution.

While global negotiations that are critical to changing the future of our ocean are on pause, seafood lovers can still play our part to safeguard our ocean. By making these small changes to our everyday behaviors, we can make big, positive impacts to our ocean health.

1. Use sustainable canned seafood

The variety of recipes you can make from this pantry staple is amazing, from a classic tuna melt to these easy Asian salmon cakes, there are plenty of ways to use what you have on hand to make a meaningful and delightful meal.

Keep it sustainable by using canned or pouched seafood with the MSC blue fish label which ensures the seafood:  

• Comes from healthy populations that are sustainably fished
• Has been caught with minimal environmental impacts
• Is traceable along the supply chain from ocean to plate

MSC certified canned salmon, tuna, mackerel, and other species are available in the US and Canada online as well as in leading supermarkets such as Walmart, Whole Foods Market, Loblaws, Costco, and Aldi, although you might find some hidden in the depths of your kitchen already. For a more detailed list of retailers and products that offer MSC certified products, click here.

2. Buy fish from MSC partners who can deliver sustainable seafood to your door

Many MSC partners offer delivery, so you can still get that ocean-to-plate experience while staying at home. Here’s a list of a few spots to try:

• American Tuna: order directly from their website and have items sent to your home.
• Clearwater: have seafood shipped directly to your door from the East-Coast of Canada. Enjoy a restaurant-quality meal with MSC certified scallops and lobster at home.
• Luke's Lobster: You can shop for lobster online and dine on it for dinner, enough said!
• Seacore: this Toronto-based distributor is providing delivery Monday-Saturday and offers a wide array of MSC certified seafoods.
• Vital Choice: you can find many MSC certified items on their website; they’re known for their salmon products! Order online and have items delivered directly to your door.
• Walmart: in both Canada and the US, this retailer offers pick up and delivery for a wide assortment of MSC certified products.
• Whole Foods Market: This grocer has been a partner of the MSC for over 20 years. Check with your local store for pick up or delivery options, and in the US visit Amazon Prime.

Remember: you can always check out Instacart or other local delivery services to find more local retailers.

3. FIN-ished with waste cooking


Sustainability is not only about how fish are caught, it’s also about minimizing waste. Here are some tips on how to minimize waste when cooking with fish:

• If you buy whole fish fillets, portion them out right away, cook only what you need and properly freeze the rest immediately (follow @MSCbluefish for a tutorial on this from MSC Ambassador Chef Charlotte Langley)
• Get creative with leftover cooked fish/seafood - use it to make fish tacos or through it in a salad
• If you do have shells or fish bones, make a tasty broth to use in sauces, soups, risotto, or anywhere you would normally use chicken or vegetable stock
• Feeling adventurous? Try seafood chips. Shells from smaller shrimp and bones from smaller fish can be dredged in seasoned corn starch and deep fried into crispy, delicious snacks

It’s not only humans who can eat sustainable seafood – your pets can too. You can find the MSC blue fish label on Nestle Purina’s Beyond pet foods, President’s Choice Nutrition First cat foods, Petcurean items, Tender & True dog and cat foods, and several other pet food brands. 

Alternatively, if you are just in need of a dog-fix during these difficult times, take a look at @woofs.co.uk on Instagram for happy dogs enjoying sustainable fishy treats! 

5. Try making sustainable seafood recipes at home

Unsure of what to do with the frozen fish fillets you have in your freezer?  Dive into our recipes and find your next inspiring meal. Find everything from cod fish cakes (pictured above) to broiled salmon with pineapple salsa and even a traditional fish sandwich; you’re bound to discover your new favorite fish dish!

If you’re not sure how to cook fish at home, watch a tutorial with MSC Ambassador Chef Charlotte Langley where she shows you how to oven roasting or pan fry three popular fish types.