About FishWatch

Welcome to FishWatch. FishWatch is designed to help you make informed decisions about the seafood you eat. It can also help you understand the management and science requirements involved with building and maintaining sustainable fisheries.

NOAA Fisheries Service is the U.S. authority on marine fisheries science, conservation, and management. A critical element of NOAA Fisheries Service's mission is to make fisheries data and information available to the general public, including seafood consumers. FishWatch provides consumers with relevant facts about seafood. This information is taken from a variety of NOAA sources, including fish stock assessments, fishery evaluations, and fishery management plans and amendments. These sources are used to ensure that the information on FishWatch is the most accurate and up-to-date information on seafood available in the U.S.

To say seafood is sustainable is to say the population of that species of fish is managed in a way that provides for today’s needs without damaging the ability of the species to reproduce and be available for future generations. The majority of fish and shellfish caught in federal waters of the U.S. are harvested under fishery management plans (FMPs) that must meet 10 National Standards to ensure fish stocks are maintained, overfishing is eliminated, and the long-term socioeconomic benefits to the nation are achieved.

In the United States, fisheries managers are required to set harvest levels based on scientific recommendations to sustain healthy populations of fish and shellfish. For a quick reference on the status of the top 230 commercial and recreational fish stocks managed under federal fishery management plans, go to the Fish Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI), which is updated quarterly.

FishWatch makes it easy for you to get all the information you need to be an educated, prepared seafood consumer, especially when you follow these simple tips.

1. Most of the information you need to make an informed choice about sustainable seafood is found on the "Get the Facts" species page. To get there, find the "Get the Facts" box on the left side of the home page and click on the species name.

2. On the species page, you'll find information on the status of the fishery, how it's managed, how fish are caught, the science on the species, charts showing how much of the fish is in the sea (biomass) and how much is harvested (landings), and other helpful information.

Here is what you'll find on every species page on FishWatch.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between "overfished" and "overfishing"?

Overfished status is based on the amount of fish in the sea. A species is declared overfished when the population size drops below a certain level determined by scientists to be sustainable. Overfishing refers to the rate of harvest of a species. Overfishing occurs when fish are being taken from a stock at a rate that depletes the stock too quickly.

When a stock is determined to be overfished, management practices must be put in place to increase the size of the stock back to the level that produces maximum sustainable yield, the largest average catch that can continuously be taken from a stock. If a U.S. federally-managed stock is overfished, it is required to be managed under a rebuilding plan with strict deadlines. This could mean that a reduced level of fishing may still take place and that these fish are being legally harvested and sold. Under these strict rebuilding plans, you can be assured that proper management is working to bring the stock back to optimum levels so the fish can continue to be harvested.

If the stock is undergoing overfishing, have management actions been taken to stop overfishing?

Overfishing occurs when fish are being taken from a stock at a rate that depletes the stock too quickly. When this happens, managers implement a variety of measures to reduce fishing pressure (e.g. fewer fishing days, fewer fishing permits, changes to fishing gear). These new measures become regulations when they are approved by the Secretary of Commerce and published in the Federal Register. They are then enforced by NOAA Fisheries Service law enforcement agents, the U.S. Coast Guard, state enforcement personnel, and other federal agents.

Are all U.S.-caught fish I see in the market or on a menu managed under a fishery management plan (FMP)?

Most likely, the answer is yes. There are currently 45 FMPs for 531 stocks and stock complexes in U.S. waters, including familiar seafood or recreationally caught species as well as plants, corals, and protected marine mammals. Federally managed stocks are assessed on a regular basis. FMPs provide a framework for managers to respond to changes in the fishery, such as the invention of new fishing technology that reduces environmental impacts on other species, and to implement regulations to keep the stocks and their environment healthy. However, it's possible that the U.S. caught fish you find on the market come from State fisheries, who typically operate in partnership with NOAA to ensure that management is consistent, conservative, and science-based. Go to the FishWatch Fisheries Management page to learn more about fisheries management in the U.S.

Bycatch is fish, other than the primary target species, that are caught incidentally to the harvest of the primary species. Bycatch may be retained or discarded, depending on regulations. Fishermen try to reduce bycatch because it takes time and energy away from catching the target species. Managers try to reduce bycatch and its impacts in a number of ways, such as working with fishermen to develop new gear that is more efficient in catching the target species, closing areas to fishing where or when the probability of bycatch is high, or even closing fisheries altogether, to protect the non-target species.

Yes, the two terms are basically interchangeable. Most people use the word 'farmed' to describe the fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants that are grown using aquaculture techniques. Aquaculture is the propagation and rearing of aquatic organisms in controlled or selected environments for any commercial, recreational, or public purpose. Aquaculture is the fastest growing form of food production in the world. It's developing worldwide to help meet the rising demand for seafood. Estimates are that almost half the fish consumed worldwide is now farmed. Most farmed fish grown in the U.S. is freshwater fish, such as catfish and trout. The dominant marine species cultured in the U.S. are shellfish, especially oysters and hard clams. For more information on aquaculture, visit the NOAA Aquaculture Program.

Fish is an important source of high quality protein, is low in saturated fat, and is rich in other essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids that have a variety of benefits. Dozens of peer-reviewed scientific studies show that consumption of fish protects against cardiovascular disease and promotes human brain development. Other studies suggest that eating fish can protect against some cancers, asthmas, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and macular degeneration. However, contaminants such as mercury or PCBs may be present in seafood and pose a risk to some groups of people, such as moms, moms-to-be, and young children. That said, the health benefits of eating seafood for the general population far outweigh potential risks. For more details on nutrition, safety guidelines, advice on selecting, storing, and preparing seafood, and the latest research on these topics, check out the FishWatch Seafood and Health page.

It's important to know what you're buying to get the best value for your money when purchasing seafood. Be wary of unusual bargains - some seafood is seasonal. If there is a considerable difference between the price of a fresh product and what you are accustomed to paying, it could be that it is from the last season's frozen inventory. Buy from a reputable dealer. And if the fish you choose looks or smells different from what you expect, discuss it with the fish market manager. Look for firm, shiny flesh that bounces back when touched. If the head is on, the eyes should be clear and bulge and the gills should be bright red. The fish should not smell "fishy" - it should smell like a fresh ocean breeze. Click here for more tips on buying, preparing, and storing seafood.

It's easy to miss the telltale signs of species substitution. Sometimes, taste or consistency is the only way to detect it. If you feel you have purchased something different from what was represented, tell your fish market manager. Here's how to distinguish some common species:

   Haddock has a dark lateral line along the skin surface.
   Skinless cod fillets have a distinctive white papery membrane along the belly and a white line of fat along the lateral    line of the fillet.
   Shark and swordfish look alike, but shark has a dark streak of flesh in the center and rough skin along the edge.
   Red snapper comes only from the southern Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (ask your retailer where the snapper    originated).
   Orange roughy comes only from Australia or New Zealand and always arrives frozen. It may be sold thawed, but it    must be labeled as previously frozen.
   Scrod is not a type of fish. The term originated in the Boston area to describe the catch of the day. It is a fish under two    and a half pounds that is either cod, haddock, or pollock. Such fish should be labeled in the market or listed in a    restaurant as "scrod cod," "scrod haddock," or "scrod pollock."