The latest installment of Monterey Bay Aquarium’s own version of “Eat This, Not That” for seafood made some headlines in conjunction with their 25th anniversary. Far be it from us to be party poopers, but NFI felt the need to hit the wires with an announcement of its owntaking issue with MBA’s “Super Green List” of seafood that gives high marks for sustainability and omega-3 fatty acids.

The problem is there are more than ten sustainable and omega-3 rich fish choices Americans can choose and suggesting otherwise will discourage eating more fish. And the naturally occurring mercury found in commercial ocean fish is only a precaution for four rarely eaten fish if you are pregnant, paln on becoming pregnant or are nursing. So the idea that commercial fish, which is regulated by the FDA, needs a special list borders on the type offear mongering we’ve seen in the past and in the end it quite frankly much ado about nothing. In a press release distributed on Tuesday we laid it out like this,

“MBA’s “Super Green List,” with its nuances and caveats, will only discourage Americans from eating seafood. Eating more of any type of fish is a step in the right direction toward correcting the widespread omega-3 deficiency in the national diet. It is important to note that MBA is a marine science organization, and not a health organization charged with dispensing nutritional advice.”

MBA also issued an extensive report entitled, “Turning the Tide: The State of Seafood,” that we’ve yet to have a chance to review in detail. However, I think it’s safe to say that NFI and MBA don’t see eye to eye on several sustainability issues, sustainability is made up of three parts — economic, environmental and social — and to base lists and recommendations on 1 or 2 of these tenets rather than all 3 is more than potentially problematic. Look for more from us in the coming days as we read and dissect the report.