Letter: Don't confuse activist hype with credible science
Submitted by George Nichols to the Times Colonist, Aug 25, 2010
Steve Carey seems to confuse activist hype with credible science when referring to seafood sustainability (Make sustainable seafood choices, August 22, 2010).
It is factually incorrect to state that seafood “buyers guides” such as those produced by SeaChoice and Ocean Wise are credible “seafood certification” programs. They are not. A better description of these guides is political motivated, protectionist and promotional materials.
For example, SeaChoice produces a guide called “Canada’s Seafood Guide”, which actually makes it sounds legitimate. But, upon closer inspection, you’ll find that the money funding these guides is mainly U.S. based, and most products listed as “Best Choice” are American. Most products listed as “Avoid” are international. It’s no secret that the money that helps fund these guides and the environmental groups who endorse them comes from wealthy U.S. based foundations.
This is less about sustainability and more about promotion of certain products.
More importantly, both SeaChoice and Oceanwise are not transparent about their rating system and do not engage seafood producers about their product. Real, credible certification programs actually engage seafood producers to help encourage change and improve sustainability.
Don’t be fooled like Steve Carey. If you want to find where your seafood comes from, it’s still best to get out into the real world and actually talk to those people who catch and grow your seafood.
George Nichols
Campbell River
