Seafood ChoiCeS

Seafood Choices: Balancing Benefits and Risks
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11762.html
0 SEAFOOD ChOICES
an economic necessity. Asian American and Pacific Island groups consume
greater amounts, different types, and different parts of seafood than the
general population (Sechena et al., 2003).
A large population of Laotian immigrants (Hmong) who settled in
Wisconsin have been studied to determine how their fishing and seafood
consumption habits differ from those of the general US population.
Hutchison and Kraft (1994) found that individuals in Hmong households
in Green Bay, Wisconsin, consumed an average of 30 fish meals per year
compared to 18 fish meals per year consumed by Wisconsin anglers in the
general population. About one-third of the fish caught were reported to
come from lakes where fishing advisories warned against eating locally
caught fish, suggesting that this group is at greater risk from exposure to
contaminants in fish than the general population.
Some members of the Asian American population have undergone acculturation
resulting in food choices that are more similar to those of the
general US population than population groups from their country of origin
(Kudo et al., 2000; Kim and Chan, 2004). Kudo et al. (2000) studied the eating
patterns of Japanese immigrants and their US-born descendants. Their
findings show dietary changes among succeeding generations of Japanese
American females, and suggest that acculturation-related changes may contribute
to decreased intake of many traditional foods, including fish.
American Indian/Alaskan Nati e and First Nations Populations
Many indigenous peoples, particularly those who live in Alaska and
northern Canada, maintain a subsistence life-style and diet. The dietary
practices of these populations are an important part of their self-definition,
culture, health, and well-being, as well as a part of the socioeconomic structure
of their communities.
A survey of coastal First Nations communities in British Columbia indicated
that, although traditional dietary patterns have changed considerably
since the introduction of Europeans to the Americas, seafood and other
marine food sources remain an important part of the culture and nutritional
resources of this population group (Mos et al., 2004). The survey showed
that fishing and gathering of seafood was practiced regularly among 46
percent of respondents and that traditional methods were used 94 percent
of the time. Among the types of seafood consumed by First Nations communities,
salmon was the most popular; 95 percent of respondents reported
consuming salmon each year and an average of 42 percent of all seafood
meals consisted of salmon.
Availability of data on seafood consumption practices among Alaskan
Natives and other Northern Dwellers is limited. Further, traditional
foods that are consumed in Alaska vary by region, local preference, and
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