Shelter Island Sustainable Seafood guide
You can’t beat the freshness of local seafood. Here are the best choices, and how to eat & shop for it responsibly.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FISHERPEOPLE!
BLUEFISH
AVOID ME! 2019 was the lowest commercial harvest for Bluefish. This could be due to warming waters and changing oxygen levels driving the fish North, or simply overfishing. A significant protein and Omega-3 fatty acid source, bluefish as food unfortunately is high in mercury and PCBs compared to mackerel or albacore tuna. In this way, it’s best to limit your Bluefish consumption for now.
Better choice oily fish are Atlantic Mackerel!
More current info here!
BLACK SEA BASS
AVOID ME! These sea bass are found along the coast from Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of Maine. The bottom trawling that catches them can be destructive to the habitat they live in. They are also farmed in indoor recirculating tanks, which are officially a “best choice.”
Take a pass unless it’s MSC-verified. Better choice are other local fish!
Cod (ATLANTIC)
AVOID ME! While these waters used to be so full of giant cod fish that explorers came from Europe to harvest them, now Atlantic cod are severely depleted and experiencing overfishing. If you have to eat cod, pick handline or pole and line-caught over gillnet, longline, or trawl.
Better choice local fish are Flounder & fluke.
More info here!
CRAB (BLUE)
EAT ME SOMETIMES! These colorful crabs were once prevalent bottom-feeders all along the Eastern seaboard. They grow and reproduce quickly, making their inherent vulnerability to fishing pressure low. But: their abundance fluctuates greatly. Some populations have experienced a drastic decline due to habitat loss from coastal development and pollution. Blue crab fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay and parts of the Gulf of Mexico have shown a declining trend compared to historic levels. Enjoy as a special seafood treat from time-to-time.
Best choice are Trotline caught from Maryland.
CRAB (JONAH/ BROWN)
EAT ME SOMETIMES! Jonah crab are fished year-round, but landings tend to be slightly heavier in the fall. Normally, crabs would be a great choice, but there has been lots of problems with endangered fin and humpback whale entanglement in the lines connected to the traps across their range…
Best choice are Pot/trap caught from US-Atlantic.
More info here!
DOGFISH
AVOID ME! These tiny sharks have been popping up at seafood shacks for almost a decade, their true identities unbeknownst to many... Dogfish are caught by habitat-destructive bottom trawls, are slow to mature, and as a top carnivorous fish, they’re full of heavy metals, so they’re not the best choice for you or the environment…
Take a pass unless it’s MSC-verified. Better choice are other local fish!
FLOUNDER
EAT ME! Summer Flounder is a bottom feeder with eyes on the top of its flat body. It relies on bays and estuaries for survival and is one of the main fish caught in coastal power plants and cooling water systems. Summer flounder is sold whole and filleted and is a great source of B vitamins and niacin. They are one of the most sought after commercial and recreational fish along the Atlantic coast.
Use it instead of cod or sole!
More info here!
HADDOCK/ SCROD
AVOID ME! A member of the cod family, Haddock meat is firm and white, high in protein and low in fat. However, Haddock are by gill nets, longlines, hand lines, and demersal beam trawls, which can be destructive to the ocean floor. They are also caught with other species that are depleted, experiencing overfishing, including Atlantic Cod, which are extremely rare. They are also often imported!
Better choice fish are other local white fish.
Full report here!
HAKE, SILVER (WHITING)
AVOID ME! Hake are voracious, active predators which gives them their firm, meaty flesh and their terrifying face. However, due to their slow growth rate and late maturity, this species is vulnerable to overfishing. In addition, the fishing method of bottom trawling can be destructive to the ocean habitat.
Take a pass unless it’s MSC-verified. Better choice are other local fish!
Full report here!
HAKE, RED (LING)
AVOID ME! Ling is an eel-like member of the cod family. They grow extremely large, but are slow growing and can live for up to 25 years. They are found in both shallow coastal waters and the deep sea. Although more resilient to fishing than other deep-water species, it often occupies habitats which are vulnerable to the impacts of trawling. In addition, other more vulnerable fish species are taken as bycatch in ling fisheries, which can have detrimental effects on the deep sea ecosystem.
Take a pass unless it’s MSC-verified. Better choice are other local fish!
More info here!
HERRING
EAT ME! Atlantic herring are caught mostly between May and October off of the U.S. These oily fish are great for you, and their funky flavor increases as they get larger! They’re often served canned or smoked, so look out for that off-season!
Best choice are purse-seine caught off the Atlantic.
More info here!
LOBSTER (AMERICAN)
AVOID ME! If you know me, you know lobsters are one of my favorite creatures! The lobster fishery is one of the best regulated fisheries in the USA, but unfortunately there is still a huge problem with entanglement of super endangered Northern Right whales in the lines. But if you must: Post-Labor Day can be good because landings from Maine are strong and summer demand has dropped…
mackerel (ATLANTIC)
EAT ME! Although it’s available year-round, some buyers recommend buying Atlantic mackerel in the fall from the trap fisheries off New England because this fish has higher oil content after a summer of feeding. They’re also great for you! Mackerel are an excellent substitution for other fish with high oil content such as salmon, tuna, or bluefish, and is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, niacin, and B vitamins.
Best choice Mackerel are Atlantic purse seine caught.
More info here!
mahi-mahi / DOLPHINFISH
AVOID ME! These fish look they’re answering a kooky casting call! Dolphinfish can be found locally -- look for those caught with handlines and hand-operated pole-and-lines or trolling lines. Only eat if you can ensure it’s US-caught, as there’s a big chance for bycatch in this fishery.
Better choice fish are local flounder.
More info here!
MENHADEN
As a smaller bait-fish, Menhaden are caught for “reduction” to fish meal and oil and as bait for other fisheries. Menhaden are very efficient filter feeders. Water is pushed through specialized gill rakers that are formed into a basket that allows them to capture plankton. There are some concerns about dolphins being caught in their purse-seine net fishery.
More info here!
monkfish
AVOID ME! This bottom-feeder might have a face only a mother would love but it still carries its own charm. Unfortunately, due to its bottom-dwelling lifestyle, the fishing methods to gather them (bottom trawls and gill nets) destroy the ocean floor.
Better choice white fish are line-caught local flounder.
More info here!
MUSSELS
EAT ME! Delicious Blue Mussels live in estuaries and ocean habitats, inhabiting rocky intertidal zones. They are often picked by hand, and are also produced by aquaculture in the open ocean.
Pick rope-grown mussels. Avoid those gathered by dredge.
oysters
EAT ME! The truly best choice seafood! These filter feeders clean the water they live in, and can now be grown by aquaculture fully sustainably year-round. Each oyster pumps and filters over 200 litres of water in a day. And Shelter island used to be the Oyster capital of out East with decades of catching and canning under its belt.
Enjoy the variety of local oysters galore!
More info here!
porgy/ scup/ BREAM
EAT ME! Available year round, porgy can grow up to 4lb. Porgy were once horribly overfished, but now it has a perfect score on the NOAA Fish stock Sustainability Index! Otter-trawl by which its caught can be destructive to the habitat, so look for hook/ line caught. It’s great pan fried or grilled.
A great replacement for catfish or snapper.
More info here!
puffer (Northern)
EAT ME! Sometimes caught as bycatch locally, this charming fish has delicate flesh. It’s more common in spring and fall, but grab it if you see it!
More here!
sea robin
EAT ME! This strange local fish flies across the ocean floor with its spiky wings spread. They have modified fin rays as feeling legs as they feel their way around on the seabed tasting and feeling for their prey, crustaceans and worms. They’re also known as a “Bait stealer,” as they’re often caught when fishermen are looking for black sea bass or flounder, and they snatch up the bait instead. They’re a great under-appreciated species.
shrimp
AVOID ME! There are SO many kinds of shrimp -- and most of them are imported from toxic swamps in SE Asia. Shrimp trawls also have issues with bycatch of unwanted species, including sea turtles.
If you have to eat it, look out for US-farmed giant freshwater prawns, and avoid any imported shrimp.
Skate
AVOID ME! A cousin of the shark, these bottom-dwelling sting rays are popular served as “wings” of another sort… but the bottom trawls and weighted gill nets used to catch them can also catch marine mammals (including the rare North Atlantic Right whale) and sea turtles.
Better choice fish are local flounder!
More info here!
squid (longfin)
EAT ME! Cheap & abundant all year round, local squid is often frozen at sea, but it’s super delicious grilled or quick-fried, stewed or roasted. Squid are an excellent source of selenium, riboflavin, and vitamin B12.
Choose local instead of imported squid or octopus.
striped bass - “STRIPERS”
AVOID ME! This local favorite is unfortunately super overfished with highly depleted stocks. Stronger measures have been implemented to help striped bass recovery. The highest quality stripers are caught in the late fall and winter. After stripers spawn in the spring and summer, their flesh loses fat - and flavor.
If you must have them, only buy pole-line caught stripers.
More info here!
tilefish (golden)
EAT ME! These spotted fish have an appetite for crustaceans and live in burrows on the ocean floor. They are delicate and sweet-fleshed, and are also known as the “golden delicious” of the Mid-Atlantic — but limit your bites as they have a higher mercury content. Best choice Tilefish are caught by set longlines or handlines and hand-operated pole and lines.
Use instead of Dover sole or Black sea bass.
More info here!
TUNA
EAT ME SOMETIMES! Caught off Montauk, these tigers of the sea are top predators. While most Tuna species are severely over-fished, particularly the Bluefin, the Albacore tuna is a good alternative to the other Tuna species, with a high future health predicted, as it’s surface level pole/line caught. However all Tuna contain heavy metals like Mercury, so be wary if you’re pregnant!
Best choice tuna: pole-caught Albacore tuna.
weakfish
AVOID ME! These predatory fish are common around Long Island in the fall & spring. They are members of the drum family, and hence make a really cool sound! However, their stocks have been struggling, particularly around the Chesapeake bay, where weakfish go to breed, so it’s best to hold off on eating these fish right now.
More info here! and here!
BUYING LOCAL SEAFOOD
Support your local SHELTER ISLAND fisherpeople!
ON SHELTER ISLAND:
Shelter Island Seafood (new!)
Peeko Oysters (ask for Chris)
Haven’s Farmers Market for Alice’s Fish Market fish
Sawyer Clark’s fish box!
OFF ISLAND:
PE & DD Seafood (Riverhead)
Braun Seafood (Cutchogue)
GEO Braun Oyster Co. (Cutchogue)
Little Ram Oysters (Southold)
Dock to Dish (Montauk)