Should one eat fish? Many of the world fisheries are seriously degraded. But fish are a major protein source for many people around the world and a healthy alternative to other forms of meat. So what is a conscientious consumer to do?
Explore the SeaChoice website (www.seachoice.org).
Evaluate the website and work with the information to answer the following questions:
Is this a reliable information source? Does it have a clear and transparent agenda?
Who runs this website? Do the organization’s credentials make the information presented reliable or unreliable? Explain.
What is the mission of this organization? What are its underlying values? How do you know this?
What data sources does SeaChoice rely on and what methodology does it employ in calculating its rankings? Are the sources it uses reliable?
Do you agree with its ranking system? Do you think that such a ranking system is sufficient and useful to help consumers make sustainable choices in selecting fish? Explain your responses.
From the main page, choose the “State of Our Oceans” link.
Do you agree with the organization’s assessment of the ocean issues? Explain.
Identify a claim that is made and the evidence given in support of this claim. Is it sufficient? Explain.
The website offers a wallet guide that identifies safe fish to eat based on health and ecological considerations. Open the “Recommendations” tab, select “Browse for Seafood” and type in “cod” in the search box; select Atlantic cod from the choices that appear. Why are some Atlantic cod identified as fish to avoid and others not?
Go back to the “Recommendations” tab and select the link for “Resources.” Open the wallet guide to Canada’s sustainable seafood. Look at the fish listed and find one that you eat frequently. (If you don’t eat fish, choose one of the tuna species, a popular fish in Canada.) Is this a good fish to consume? If not, identify an alternate fish you could consume instead.
How might a program like SeaChoice help the oceans?