The “Big Three” have historically topped the National Fisheries Institute’s (NFI) list of the most consumed seafood products in the U.S. — a trend that the organization expects to continue. In 2023, Americans ate 19.1 pounds of seafood per capita, with shrimp accounting for just over 5 pounds (27%), salmon for 3.5 pounds (18%), and canned tuna for 2 pounds (10.5%) per capita. In total, the Big Three made up 55% of American seafood consumption.
However, the Big Three have the potential to cause big problems. Shrimp, salmon, and tuna are frequently subject to sustainability concerns regarding the methods used to fish and farm-raise these species. According to Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, a resource we have used for decades at Bon Appétit to guide seafood purchasing, all three options can be difficult to source sustainably. Bottom trawls used to catch wild shrimp can damage seafloors, and untreated wastewater used to farm shrimp can pollute waterways. Marine net pens used to farm salmon risk disease or pollution impacting surrounding ecosystems, and over 35% of the most popular kinds of tuna caught globally are considered unsustainable by Seafood Watch standards.
While the popularity and potential pitfalls of the Big Three are clear, the ocean’s bounty is much more expansive. For National Seafood Month 2026, we are encouraging our guests to look beyond the Big Three to more sustainable, less utilized aquatic species — there are plenty of other fish in the sea!
Beyond the Big Three
For example, choose arctic char or U.S.-farmed rainbow trout for more sustainable fish alternatives, which have no red ratings on Seafood Watch. In fact, both options feature on the Super Green List, a collection curated for the 25th anniversary of Seafood Watch highlighting seafood species that represent the best of both sustainability and nutrition.
For a shellfish swap, choose mussels over shrimp. Most mussels sold or served in the U.S. are farmed, making them not only delicious and nutritious but also rated green by Seafood Watch. Typically farmed in shallow coastal waters, mussels use filter feeding to capture nutrients and phytoplankton in the ocean water around them. As filter feeders, bivalves like mussels (along with clams and oysters) pull water into their shells to consume microorganisms.
Simultaneously, these species absorb excess nitrogen, phosphorous, and carbon, thus mitigating climate change effects. Their unique filtration process gives bivalves the dual advantage as a low input organism and a water purifier. This natural process can improve water quality and clarity, benefitting ecosystems where wild mussels have been depleted. Many bivalves share this trait, making them sustainability superstars.
Take the plunge and join us in switching up your typical seafood choices! As we celebrate National Seafood Month this year, we’ll be serving up several sustainable and tasty options outside of the Big Three, and we encourage you to do the same.
Our continuous dedication to providing environmentally friendly seafood is made possible with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, making sustainable seafood accessible since 2002. You can learn more about our commitment to sustainable seafood here.
