At five o’clock the next morning, Abraham hollers for me to get out of bed and into the boat. On balance, I can’t say I feel any qualms. At least not about what I have eaten.
Buyer’s Guide to Shrimp
Despite the improvements the industry is making, securing environmentally sustainable shrimp can still require a bit of legwork. It can also be a little confusing, because there is no system of standards that applies to all shrimp.
If you are looking for a general rule of thumb, follow the advice of Seafood Watch: “Shrimp from the United States are generally good alternatives to imported sources.” Pink shrimp from the West Coast (a small but tasty “salad” species) and spot prawns earn the organization’s “Best” rating; shrimp from the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico are considered “Good.” Imported shrimp, whether farmed or trawled, are rated “Avoid.”
An updated list of sources for Certified Wild American shrimp can be found at wildamericanshrimp.com. In the South and East, Wal-Mart and supermarkets such as A&P, Albertsons, Super One, and Kroger carry wild American shrimp, but they are not available at all times at all locations.
Tracking down OceanBoy shrimp can be even harder, because the company produces only between July and December, and the supply quickly runs out. When available, the shrimp can be ordered through Costco. —B.E.
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