Now that we’re in the final stretch of preparing our national PR launch and new website design, I am getting this question more than ever. Funny in a way, because it usually follows some form of the question, “do we really need another seafood program?” Although, this question is more commonly expressed as, “Oh, you’re like so-and-so’s program.” Man do I hate that. But, people do seem to love wallet cards in spite of the fact that they are loathe to use them.

If you don’t have any idea what I’m talking about, here’s a few of the programs in whose shadow we must grow. But first, let me point out that, being aware of what is already available for consumers, we have created a program that is Nothing Like Any Of Them.

sustainable seafood cards - fold them yourself

Environmental Defense Fund’s Pocket Seafood Selector.  Monterey Bay’s Seafood Watch various cards for various regions (Can I get a Hawaiian fish guide in Spanish?).  Marine Stewardship Council’s Fish to Eat.  Audobon society’s Seafood Lover’s Guide, also available as a beautifully illustrated coffee table book (not kidding).  Charting Nature’s Sustainable Seafood Guides.  Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium Right Bite Seafood Wallet Card.  The National Resource Defense Council’s Mercury in Fish Guide.  SeaChoice Canada’s Seafood Guide.  The Audobon/Wildlife Conservation Society Special Edition (!) Seafood Wallet Card.  Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Pocket Good Fish Guide.  Blue Ocean Institute’s Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood.  This last one is my favorite, not just because of the immense amount of research and work that obviously went into producing the information.  Here is a shot of the eight-fold card that flips open like the Octomom’s wallet photo album. (more…)