Sockeye Salmon en Papillote

For me, the most overwhelming part of trying to use sustainable ingredients is buying fish.

When I say that I find this topic overwhelming, I mean that sometimes I go weeks and weeks and weeks without buying fish to cook at home because I get so confused and discouraged when I walk up to the fish counter that I avoid it at all costs.

My experience always goes a little something like this.

I stare through the glass at all of the glistening filets and sides of fish nested on ice. Between all of the info pasted on the case and dotted throughout, I find myself studying and reading signs for the next 10 minutes, trying to make sense of where the fish is from, how it was caught or raised, and even what type of fish it is. The fact that so many fish species seem to have multiple names does not help the situation. I mean, broccoli is broccoli. Chicken is chicken. Cod should just be, well, cod, no? But it’s not; it could also be Scrod, Whitefish, Alaska cod, Gray cod or True cod. See what I mean?

Along with multiple ‘seals of approval’ from folks like the Marine Stewardship Council, there are almost always various color-coding systems, which differ from store to store, meant to represent how “sustainable” each selection is. I am convinced that these systems and signs are meant to daze me into indifference rather than to actually help me make an informed choice.

Ten to fifteen minutes later – signs read – it’s time to make decisions. Farmed or wild?

That’s when I realize that, in spite of all of those signs and seals of approval, I am still at a loss. Although it’s far better to be a clued-in consumer, in the case of fish, figuring out what we should buy is like trying to decode a very, very disturbing and confusing puzzle. Except it seems like the answer is always a choice between the lesser of many evils – and that doesn’t really sit well with me. And that’s when I turn around on my heels and exit the fish shop – no fish or shellfish in hand.

But, because I adore eating fish and there’s no denying how good it is for us, I have reinvigorated my quest to source sustainable fish and have left the stress and guilt behind. With the help of The Monterey Bay Aquarium and their seafood watch, it’s easier than ever to find up-to-date info about which seafood we should be avoiding or choosing.

A local Brooklyn favorite for sourcing seafood is Forager’s City Grocers, located in DUMBO. They work hard to stock their counter with sustainably sourced fish and shellfish – and the people that work there know their stuff should you have questions. This takes a lot of the guesswork and anxiety out of the fish buying process. This is kind of great for me, because it means even if I have left my brain at home, I can still walk away, seafood in hand, knowing that what I’ve purchased is sustainable.

Since not everyone has a Forager’s, it also helps that the folks at Trader Joe’s have made a commitment to sourcing only sustainable seafood – a move that is supposed to be complete by December 2012. I recently made a visit to assess the situation and, have to say, I was impressed with the amount of sustainable seafood they have available. And, true to TJ’s form, the price is right too.

So, thankfully, my fish-counter-induced anxiety is on its way to becoming history. With a tiny bit of research done before shopping, it’s not so hard to be an informed fish consumer. And thanks to the commitments made by the folks at stores like Trader Joe’s and Foragers City Grocers, it’s a becoming a little bit easier for conscientious cooks to get their hands on fish they can feel good about eating.