Bad Fish – Part 2

The other night at dinner I ordered Chilean Sea Bass. Then I discovered that this is another fish primarily caught with bottom trawls. In addition, they can also be caught with longlines, which can kill endangered albatrosses and other sea birds.

Other names for this fish are Antarctic Toothfish and Patagonian Toothfish. This species of fish inhabits the deep cold sub-Antarctic waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. It feeds on plankton and is, in turn, food for whales and seals.

I can only hope that the one I ate came from a place other than the Pacific Ocean. I do have some concerns about anything coming out of the Pacific Ocean because of the possibility of radioactivity.

The main sources of Patagonian Toothfish are Chile, Argentina, France and Australia. Patagonian Toothfish sold in the U.S. market are primarily from Chile, Argentina and Uruguay.

This is another fish with elevated mercury levels. If you decide to eat it, the following is recommended: adults should eat no more than 2 meals per month and children up to age 12 should eat no more than 1 meal per month.

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, when possible, purchase certified sustainable Chilean Sea Bass products bearing the blue eco-label of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

National Geographic’s “Seafood Substitutions” lists Alaskan Sablefish as a tasty (and less expensive) substitute.