Sustainable Seafood

Hawaii is still the land of poke and poi, but come 2011, don't expect to find shark fin. On Friday, governor Linda Lingle passed a bill prohibiting the possession, sale, or distribution of shark fins come July 1, 2011, making Hawaii the first U.S. state to ban the commodity. Shark fin is considered a delicacy in certain Asian countries, particularly in Chinese cuisine, where it's been served in opulent dishes since the Ming Dynasty.The practice of shark finning has long been the subject of animal rights activists, who cite that sharks are being killed for their fins at a shocking rate of 89 million per year, disrupting the ocean habitat. I'm torn on this issue. On the one hand, I understand the delicacy's environmental repercussions; on the other, I believe such laws are unlikely to reform Asian palates. Where do you stand? Do you see other states following suit?

Source: Flickr User avlxyz

• Tyler Florence is set to open three Bay Area restaurants. — San Francisco Chronicle
• A buzzkill guide to sustainable seafood. — Huffington Post Food
• How to eat an artichoke. — Chow
• Simple remedies for an upset stomach. — The Epi-Log
• San Franciscans: check out Spruce's sister restaurant in Park City. — Grub Street SF
• Is Gail Simmons the best reality TV show judge? — Feast
• Learn the proper technique for sharpening knives. — Serious Eats
• Has the winner of Top Chef Masters been revealed again? Warning: spoiler alert! — Time Out New York
• Eight ideas for Martha Stewart video games.— Eater

Trader Joe's is following in the footsteps of stores like Target and Safeway, announcing plans to sell only sustainably sourced seafood by the end of 2012. The phase-out, which applies to all fresh, frozen, and canned seafood in the chain's stores, comes after pressure from environmental groups, and was first posted on the Trader Joe's website.

There, the grocer revealed that, in addition to the mandatory country of origin and wild/farm raised labeling, they also plan to include information on species' Latin names, origin, and catch or production method.

It's a big move for Trader Joe's, which has historically been ranked the lowest of any national grocery chain in the sustainable seafood department. Still, with a number of stores — like Costco, H.E.B., and Meijer — yet to take action, there's a lot of room for improvement. Where do you shop when seeking out eco-friendly seafood choices?

Source: Flickr User arnold | inuyaki

• America's regional nostalgic candies are a dying breed. — Wall Street Journal
• Safeway stores have partnered with seafood organization Fish Wise to develop a sustainable seafood program. – San Francisco Chronicle
• Mark Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day, which land on the same date this year, with an East-West dish from Ming Tsai. — Chicago Tribune
• Is the end near for Napa's pricey cult Cabernets? — Los Angeles Times
• Where to eat in Vancouver during the Olympic Games. — New York Times
• Perfect with Super Bowl chili: cornbread with cheddar and chiles. — Boston Globe
• Liquor wholesalers are to blame when you can't find the brand of booze you're looking for. — Washington Post

At the beginning of the month, I swore that the sustainable seafood trend would explode in 2010. Now it's already going mainstream. Earlier this week, Target announced its plan to stop selling farmed salmon in all of its stores.

The policy, which is part of an effort to make more ocean-sustainable choices, will encompass all fresh, frozen, and smoked seafood offerings, including Target's private labels Archer Farms and Market Pantry and national brands. The company will also stop selling sushi made with farmed salmon by the end of the year.

The eco-conscious decision by Target, a corporation that operates 1,744 stores in 49 states, will undoubtedly send ripples throughout the food retail industry. I'm thrilled Target has gone to such great lengths to take a stance on fish farming practices, and I hope other stores like Costco and Walmart will follow suit. Are you surprised to hear about the company's decision?

Seafood is a hard category to navigate: farmed versus wild, mercury levels, and overfishing are just some of the things to think about when buying it. Adding to the confusion is that the arguments on each side are often changing due to the dynamic nature of the industry. I try my best to be a responsible consumer but I'm usually left feeling overwhelmed by all the convoluted information out there.

This week CNNHealth explored the argument between farmed and wild fish. It was a thoughtful piece but it didn't make the argument clearer for me. Proponents of farmed fish, particularly salmon, say that the health benefits (omega-3 fatty acids, protein, low calories) far outweigh its risks (high levels of toxins and environmentally unsound farming practices). Naturally, opponents argue quite the opposite.

To find out about a free guide that you can use to make smarter, healthier seafood choices, read more

• Is it too late to save the world's seafood population?— The Atlantic
• Twenty-five reasons to love the spoon. — Mouthing Off
• Hosting a party in San Francisco? Consider having it at one of these restaurants. — 7x7
• Angelina Jolie is a fan of Sandra Lee's no-bake birthday cake. — Eat Me Daily
• Catch up with New York City chefs via Twitter. — Eater NY
• Haven't figured out what to serve on Halloween? Here are four awesome menu ideas. — Bon Appétit
• Did anyone attend Baconfest in Chicago? — Serious Eats

• Introducing the newest must-have wine application for your iPhone. — Nirvino
• Fabio Viviani's cookbook by the numbers. — Eat Me Daily
• Here are 21 tasty bar snack recipes. — Chow
• Everything you need to know about buying sustainable seafood. — Sunset
• Eight common fast foods you should avoid. — SF Weekly
• Michael Pollan's next mission: reform health care. — Grub Street
• The real reason Hector was kicked off of Top Chef? His thermometer didn't work.— The Feedbag
• Is it OK to serve pesto at a dinner party? — The Epi-Log
• This lavender honey spice cake is seriously Italian. — Serious Eats
• Eater is expanding and looking for bloggers/photographers in a city near you. — Eater