Seafood Watch Reviews – Page 2
3/5 rating based on 107 reviews. Read all reviews for Seafood Watch for iPhone.
Seafood Watch is free iOS app published by Monterey Bay Aquarium
Dead ends
kearena
I don’t understand the other complaints about info that grocery stores or restaurants don’t have. If they don’t know how their fish is sourced you shouldn’t shop there! The info provided to choose sustainable seafood is basic stuff. But the app... ugh. Too many parts that dead end. One example: it offers downloading the chart (which I used to have in paper copy but lost in a move), which would be useful when WiFi isn’t available. But you get the image and there’s no way to download and no way back. Only option: close app. Closing app is not a good app option, shall I say unappetizing? Another example, nothing in my area for where to buy sustainable fish. When I clicked on how to be a part of the system, for vendors, to give info to local fishmongers, the app again got stuck. Methinks you need better programmers for more seamless functionality. I just downloaded the app today and these were 2 of the 3 things I looked at... an inauspicious start, I must say. Also... can you be less “west coast” please? There’s a whole world out there where we buy seafood.
Trove of Information
potratzable
I’m impressed with the amount of information in this app. For each species of fish the app lists a multitude of common origins and whether regions practice sustainable fishing methods. I’ve never seen this concentration of seafood information anywhere. People are docking stars because of not being able to determine fish origins when making seafood purchases. That isn’t an app problem - it’s a cultural issue. Culturally most people, including myself, vaguely know there are overfishing and sustainability issues, but have no idea of the extent. Tools like this app can help bring about needed changes in the seafood industry.
Wildly inaccurate
Queens baby
Well intentioned but wildly inaccurate. Aquariums are pushing this which prompted me to download it but unfortunately they’re doing themselves and our fisheries a disservice by spreading misinformation. I work in the seafood industry within both the environment and commercial sector and am fairly knowledgeable about the products. Not only has information not been updated in a long time but the format it’s presented in doesn’t make sense. The East Coast is the leading squid fishery yet they only list California squid and say it’s MSC certified, which it isn’t. The first MSC certification for squid was only earned by a couple East Coast companies roughly a month ago. In addition, California squid is considered to be so crappy that several large processors have discontinued the line. This is just one example. The grading also varies widely for species which were caught in the same area and by the same method but have received completely different grades. If you really want to consider the environment, buy local products that don’t have to travel long distances instead of buying farmed shrimp from Vietnam that’s produced with chemicals and has to be shipped to the middle of nowhere. If you’re buying a seafood dish in a restaurant it’s unlikely that it will be responsibly sourced especially if you’re getting shrimp fried rice or something. I truly hope someone releases a better app soon because our oceans are overfished and slowly dying so the fact that they’re not taking this job seriously is upsetting
Great idea, terrible implementation
mindaika
When you open the app, there is an 10-second animation that you can’t skip. This is tremendously annoying. Sometimes the app just stops working. Earlier today, searching for “tuna” retrieved nothing. Now it works.
The Portlandia of apps
Bill Andersoot
Try asking your local grocer how and where their fish was caught. Then prepare yourself for a blank stare or gales of laughter. This app requires deeper knowledge than most people have access to. Also, this app is not designed to keep YOU healthy—it’s designed to keep the oceans healthy. Eating tilapia, for instance, is bad for your heart (high in omega 6, low in omega 3, possibly worse for you than red meat). This app won’t tell you that. In fact, it recommends tilapia. Way too much agenda here and not enough useful information.
Has the Monterey Bay Aquarium shut its doors?
Iratherfly
Has the Monterey Bay Aquarium shut its doors?The app sure looks like it, with no maintenance to their app for years. Buggy to oblivion. Crashes constantly, endless looping waiting graphics, search brings no results, then similar search brings results and the next time it doesn’t again. Giving up and using A-Z list fails to load if. The only reliable thing here is the overly self-important opening animation. This is a great idea which so many of us would LOVE to use and share. It should be the Aquarium’s best global publicity and brand enhancement and a real force in spreading their mission ...but in this derelict state it seems that they are out of money or don’t really care. What a shame!
Confused
phmokda
Looked up Chilean Sea-bass and could not find it. Could not locate explanation of the icons. Little discussion of farm raised vs wild salmon.
East Coast version?
The travelsmith
I heard about and downloaded the app when I was in San Diego recently. When I returned home to New York it had no information a s could not locate any places around the zip code I entered. If there is a similar app for the east coast I would love to know about it. A great idea, just broaden your scope.