These are all things to look for when purchasing fish. If the eyes are sunken in on a whole fish then it is most likely is not fresh. As is any fish that smells like fish. Fresh fish should smell like the ocean and not have a strong fishy odor. The texture of the fish depends on a variety of factors and does not always indicate freshness, however older fish will be mushier.

Knowing the story of your seafood helps you support methods and fishing industries that have a more positive effect on our world. Many commercial fishing methods used are environmentally unsustainable and highly unregulated. Nets are used to scoop up whole schools of fish and everything surrounding them. Others drag weights on the bottom of the seafloor while scooping up all that is in the path of a giant net. Shrimp are the largest culprit of this. Some fish are caught in waters that are polluted. Fish are often bought for a low price and sold for a much higher price, imported and exported to make profit that does not trickle down to the fishers. The stocks of fish are depleted because the fishers never receive adequate pay for their efforts.

Buzz words such as troll caught and day boat caught are often used at places to attract more business, yet the ability to fulfill these claims is rarely met.