Buying and preparing local, responsible seafood during coronavirus quarantine

The world is operating a little differently right now. As we spend more time at home preparing meals during the coronavirus quarantine, we can make choices that help support our immune systems and healthy ecosystems. Seafood is among the healthiest and easiest proteins to prepare. Buying seafood from local fishermen and seafood farmers provides greater assurances that the seafood is produced in a manner that is environmentally and socially responsible. There are a number of fishermen, seafood farmers, and suppliers who are working hard to adapt to the current quarantine conditions to continue to provide consumers access to healthy, local sources of responsible seafood.

Seafood for the Future has compiled some resources to help you connect to responsible seafood sources in California and the U.S. There are also some links to recipes and cooking tips from our friends at Seafood Nutrition Partnership to inspire simple, healthy and sustainable seafood for the whole family to enjoy.

Can’t find U.S. seafood? Look for products certified by Marine Stewardship Council, Best Aquaculture Practices, or Aquaculture Stewardship Council or recommended by Seafood Watch.

Local Seafood Resources:

• Seafood Finder, Local Catch
• Local Catch Guide, Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust
• Seafood Search, FishChoice
• Get fresh oysters shipped directly to you, Pacific Coast Shellfish Grower’s Association
• Small Business Seafood Map, Sustainable Fisheries

Seafood Directories by State:

• CALIFORNIA: A guide to local seafood vendors in California, Seafood for the Future (includes some entries for Washington and Hawaii)
• CALIFORNIA: Fishermen’s Markets in California, California Sea Grant
• CONNECTICUT: Website offers consumers a direct connection to seafood, Connecticut Sea Grant
• DELAWARE: Delaware Seafood Suppliers, Delaware Sea Grant
• GEORGIA: Georgia Seafood Directory, Georgia Sea Grant
• FLORIDA: Florida Seafood Directory, Florida Sea Grant
• VIRGINIA: Eat Healthy and Support Virginia’s Economy While Enjoying Fresh Virginia Seafood, Virginia Seafood
• TEXAS: Open Seafood Retailers, Texas Sea Grant

Recipes, Cooking Tips, and More from Seafood Nutrition Partnership:

• Kid-friendly recipes and tips
• Cooking frozen seafood
• Cooking with canned seafood

NOTE: These resources are provided for reference only. Any mention of specific brands, products, or policies is not an endorsement by the Aquarium of the Pacific, Seafood for the Future, or our sponsors and partners.