We have been working hard the past few years to promote local Gulf seafood, how to source it, and what questions you as the consumer can ask at your local fish market or seafood restaurant.
Right now, when you visit your local fish market or seafood counter in the supermarket, they are required by law (COOL) to display where the seafood was harvested. Often times it will also specify whether the seafood is farm-raised or wild caught.
Always ask your server where the seafood is from! They may not know, but can always go and ask their manager or chef where things were harvested. With oysters, the restaurant is required to keep the tags on hand in the kitchen so that everyone can easily see where they were harvested or grown. Sometimes servers may just tell customers what they think they want to hear, whether or not the information is correct.
MarketMaker is a resource that enables seafood consumers to locate local fish markets and seafood restaurants that support our local Gulf seafood industry. It is easily accessible on mobile phones at al.foodmarketmaker.com.
Our take home message to you, the consumer – eat Gulf seafood and/or U.S. seafood!
Meet the author
