Mention “sharks” to a group of people and you will get a range of opinions from blood-thirsty killers as depicted in “Jaws” to graceful predators important for ecosystem health (the latter remark is probably from a marine scientist, but you get my drift). I’ve been lucky enough through work and travel to have dived with a few sharks, and although some experiences were heart-thumping I’ve never been threatened by one. These days it’s more likely the reverse.

On the Pacific coast of Mexico, all five species of sea turtles (green, hawksbill, loggerhead, olive ridley and leatherback) have declined over the past century due to illegal poaching and incidental capture in fishing nets. One of the most heavily impacted areas has been the Bahia Magdalena region, where endangered sea turtle populations remain low despite progressive conservation measures that include complete legal protection for sea turtles and their major nesting beaches.

Blue Ocean Institute offers many different formats for finding out whether a fish or shellfish is considered sustainable. Some people want to refer only to the color ranking available in stores or in seafood wallet guides. Others are satisfied with the short summary included in the wallet guides or via FishPhone. Still others read the entire seafood report on our website. Regardless of the format, the seafood information they use is based on many months of research.