Things to Know When You Order Seafood Online

Often, people who live inland find it difficult to find fresh seafood in their local stores. One solution to the problem is to order seafood online from a coastal fish market. Many fish markets nowadays supplement their local business by taking orders online and then shipping it via next day delivery to their customers. The convenience of having seafood shipped from an online fish market sometimes overrides the concerns and questions that consumers might ask if they were shopping in person. If you’re going to order seafood online, it’s a good idea to pick up the phone or open an email and ask the supplier a few questions about the origin of the fish they sell. These are a few of the questions recommended by Food and Water Watch, an organization that supports sustainable seafood sourcing.

Are the Fish You Sell Caught or Farmed Locally?

That may seem a strange question if you’re having seafood shipped from across the country, but it’s still a good question to ask. Every extra mile that your food travels to reach you is less fuel used and less carbon in the atmosphere. If the seafood you order is local at the other end, you’re at least saving miles at the start.

Is Your Seafood Caught or Farmed Domestically?

The U.S. has stringent standards for safe fish handling, as well as about the toxins that can be discharged into the sea. When you order seafood that was farmed or caught domestically, you reduce the risk that your seafood is contaminated with toxic substances – and contribute to the U.S. economy, of course.

Is the Seafood Farmed or Wild?

Most fish markets sell a mix of farmed and wild-caught seafood. In general, wild-caught is preferred, though there are exceptions. Alaskan halibut farms, for example, are subject to strict regulations that ensure high quality, healthy halibut. On the other hand, choose wild-caught salmon over farmed salmon because farmed salmon are often raised in large cages and close quarters that contribute to disease. To reduce the incidence of disease, they may be dosed with antibiotics and other chemicals in the water. Wild-caught salmon are generally healthier and tastier.

If you decide to order seafood online, choose a real fish market that can tell you where their fish is from and how it was harvested. The more you know about your food’s origin, the better off and healthier – not to mention tastier – your meals will be.