Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch uses science-based information to evaluate the most common items available in the North American seafood market against environmental sustainability criteria. Recommendations are updated at least once every three years or as soon as new information is made available, and recommendation updates are released once a month. 2023 Rating updates can be viewed here.
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
October
|
Species Name |
Origin |
Method |
Old SFW Rating |
New SFW Rating |
|
Lake Whitefish |
Canada - Lake Erie |
Set Gillnet |
|
|
|
USA - Ohio (Lake Erie) |
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
|
|
Canada - Lake Ontario |
Set Gillnet |
|
|
|
|
USA - Michigan (Lake Erie) |
Barriers, fences, weirs, corrals |
|
|
|
|
Pacific Bluefin Tuna |
Mexico - Pacific |
Purse Seine (Unassociated) |
|
|
|
USA - Pacific |
Handlines and hand-operated pole-and-lines |
|
|
|
|
USA - California |
Purse Seine (Unassociated) |
|
|
|
|
Rainbow Smelt |
Canada - Lake Erie |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Skipjack Tuna |
USA - California |
Purse Seine (Unassociated) |
|
|
|
Squirefish Snapper |
New Zealand (SNA1) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Danish Seine |
|
|
||
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
New Zealand (SNA2) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
New Zealand (SNA7) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
New Zealand (SNA8) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Danish Seine |
|
|
||
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Walleye |
Canada - Lake Erie |
Set gillnet |
|
|
|
Canada - Lake Ontario |
Set gillnet |
|
|
|
|
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
||
|
White Bass |
Canada - Lake Erie |
Set gillnet |
|
|
|
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
||
|
USA - Ohio (Lake Erie) |
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
|
|
White Perch |
Canada - Lake Erie |
Set gillnet |
|
|
|
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
||
|
USA - Ohio (Lake Erie) |
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
|
|
Yellow Perch |
Canada - Lake Erie |
Set gillnet |
|
|
|
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
||
|
USA - Ohio (Lake Erie) |
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
|
|
Canada - Lake Ontario |
Set gillnet |
|
|
|
|
Canada - Lake Ontario and Saint Lawrence River |
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
|
|
USA - New York (Lake Ontario) |
Set gillnet |
|
|
|
|
USA - New York (Lake Erie) |
Barriers, fences, weirs, corals |
|
|
|
|
USA - Pennsylvania (Lake Erie) |
Barriers, fences, weirs, corrals |
|
|
|
|
Yellowfin Tuna |
USA - California |
Purse Seine (Unassociated) |
|
|
September
| Species Name | Origin | Method | Old SFW Rating | New SFW Rating |
| California Spiny Lobster | USA - California | Pots |  |
|
| Rainbow Trout | Canada | Ponds |  |
 |
| Freshwater Net Pen | |
|
||
| Raceways | |
|
||
| Tanks | |
|
August
| Species Name | Origin | Method | Old SFW Rating | New SFW Rating |
|
Arrowtooth Flounder |
Canada - British Columbia (3CD shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5DE deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD/5ABC deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5DE pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Big Skate |
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5DE pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
|
Blackspotted Rockfish |
Canada - North British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - South British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
 |
|
|
Canada - North British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - South British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Jig | |
|
|
| Set Longline | |
|
||
| Troll | |
|
||
|
Canada - North British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline | |
|
|
|
Canada - South British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline | |
|
|
|
Bocaccio Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canary Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
| China Rockfish | Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) | Jig | |
|
| Set Longline | |
|
||
| Troll | |
|
||
| Copper Rockfish | Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) | Jig | |
|
| Set Longline | |
|
||
| Troll | |
|
||
| Canada - British Columbia (inside rockfish fishery) | Jig | |
|
|
| Set Longline | |
|
||
| Troll | |
|
||
|
Darkblotched Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Dover Sole |
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD/5ABC deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5DE deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
English Sole |
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5DE pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Flathead Sole |
Canada - British Columbia (3CD shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Greenstriped Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
||
|
Kelp Greenling |
Canada - British Columbia (inside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Lingcod |
Canada - British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (lingcod fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5DE pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (inside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Longnose Skate |
Canada - British Columbia (3CD/5ABC deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Longspine Thornyhead Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
North Pacific Spiny Dogfish Shark |
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Northern Razor Clam |
Washington - Quinault Indian Nation |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
USA - Alaska (Gulf of Alaska) |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
USA - Oregon |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
USA - Washington |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
Pacific Cod |
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5DE pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagis fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Pacific Halibut |
Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
|
Pacific Ocean Perch Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD/5ABC deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Petrale Sole |
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD/5ABC deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Quillback Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (inside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Redbanded Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Redstripe Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Rex Sole |
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD/5ABC deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Rougheye Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Jig |
|
|
||
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (5DE deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD/5ABC deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Sablefish |
Canada - British Columbia (sablefish pot fishery) |
Pots |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD/5ABC deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Sharpchin Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Shortraker Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Shortspine Thornyhead Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (3CD rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD/5ABC deepwater flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Silvergray Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Southern Rock Sole |
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Spiny Dogfish Shark |
Canada - British Columbia |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
Splitnose Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Tiger Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (inside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Walleye Pollock |
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5DE pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Widow Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Yelloweye Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (sablefish longline fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (inside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (spiny dogfish longline fishery) |
Set Longline |
|
|
|
|
Yellowmouth Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Yellowtail Rockfish |
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE shallow water flatfish fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (rockfish trawl fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (3CD rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC pelagics fishery) |
Bottom Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (5ABC/5DE rockfish trawl fishery) |
Midwater Trawl |
|
|
|
|
Canada - British Columbia (inside rockfish fishery) |
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Troll |
|
|
||
|
Canada - British Columbia (outside rockfish fishery)
|
Jig |
|
|
|
|
Set Longline |
|
|
||
|
Troll |
|
|
July
June
| Species Name | Origin | Method | Old SFW Rating | New SFW Rating |
|
Bay Scallops |
USA - Massachusetts |
Towed Dredges |
|
|
|
USA - New York |
Towed Dredges |
|
|
|
|
Nile Tilapia |
Mexico |
Freshwater Net Pen |
|
|
|
Ponds |
|
|
||
|
Freshwater Net Pen (mega-sized farms) |
|
|
||
|
Striped Bass |
USA - Chesapeake Bay |
Handlines and hand-operated pole-and-lines |
|
|
|
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
||
|
USA - Maryland |
Gillnets and entangling nets |
|
|
|
|
USA - Northwest Atlantic |
Fyke nets |
|
|
|
|
Stationary uncovered pound nets |
|
|
||
|
Gillnets and entangling nets |
|
|
||
|
Handlines and hand-operated pole-and-lines |
|
|
||
|
USA - Virginia (Chesapeake Bay) |
Gillnets and entangling nets |
|
|
March
|
Species Name |
Origin |
Method |
Old SFW Rating |
New SFW Rating |
|
Deepsea Crab |
Chile |
Traps |
|
|
|
Northern Quahog Clam |
Canada (Maritimes) |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
Canada (Gulf) |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
USA - Maine |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
USA - Massachusetts |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
USA - New Jersey |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
USA - New York |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
USA - North Carolina |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
USA - Rhode Island |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
Pacific Geoduck Clam |
Canada - British Columbia |
Bottom Culture |
|
|
|
USA - Washington |
Bottom Culture |
|
|
|
|
Softshell Clam |
Canada (Gulf) |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
Canada (Maritimes) |
Hand Implements |
|
|
|
|
Hand Implements |
|
|
February
|
Species Name |
Origin |
Method |
Old SFW Rating |
New SFW Rating |
|
Atlantic Herring |
USA - Northwest Atlantic |
Small mesh bottom trawl |
|
|
|
Midwater Trawl |
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Purse Seine |
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|
Atlantic Mackerel |
Canada - Northwest Atlantic |
Purse Seine |
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|
USA - Northwest Atlantic |
Midwater Trawl |
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Small mesh bottom trawl |
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Blacktail Snapper |
USA - Hawaii |
Handlines and hand-operated pole and lines |
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Diving |
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Surrounding nets |
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|
Bluestriped Snapper |
USA - Hawaii |
Handlines and hand-operated pole and lines |
|
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Surrounding nets |
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Gillnets and entangling nets |
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|
Nicaragua |
Ponds |
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January
|
Species Name |
Origin |
Method |
Old SFW Rating |
New SFW Rating |
|
Blue Tilapia |
Peru |
Raceways |
|
|
|
Hybrid Red Tilapia |
Ecuador |
Ponds |
|
|
|
Nile Tilapia |
Ecuador |
Ponds |
|
|
|
Honduras |
Freshwater Net Pen |
|
|
|
|
Rainbow Trout |
Colombia |
Freshwater Net Pen |
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|
Raceways |
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|
Ponds |
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