Seafood was front and center this past weekend at the Great American Seafood Cook-off in New Orleans. In fact, NOAA Fisheries took it a step further Saturday by rolling out its new Web site, dedicated to informing U.S. consumers about the sustainability and quality of seafood.

FishWatch (http://www.fishwatch.noaa.gov) has information on more than 30 of the most popular seafood species, with more to be added very soon.

NOAA Fisheries Service is asking people to visit the site within the next 60 days, and tell them what they think. You may leave your thoughts by clicking the “comments” section, or by e-mailing fishwatch@noaa.gov.

“We’ve been trying to find a way to get more into education, helping the consumer make informed decisions,” NOAA Fisheries Service Director Dr. Bill Hogarth said Monday during a telephone interview from the Crescent City. “We’ve put this information on there, and hope to get the message out that if it’s U.S. seafood, it’s managed correctly.”

Hogarth said consumers are becoming more worried about the safety, quality and sustainability of the seafood they eat, adding the online guide will provide accurate information to address their concerns.

“I’m happy with the Web site,” he said. “There are other people putting out different types of information about overfishing in species such as red snapper. There are numerous regulations in place to help rebuild the species so you shouldn’t have to change your diet. Consumers should have an opportunity to buy red snapper when it’s at the market. We have standards and laws to end overfishing. The fish are there because we are enforcing the laws.”

According to Hogarth, FishWatch gives consumers timely information about red snapper and other popular seafood. The Web site also includes details on population strength and status, as well as consumer information such as fat content and vitamins contained in each species.

Economic information, such as where seafood comes from and how much money it brings to the economy is also provided.

“The nutrition information included will surprise folks,” Hogarth said. “We worked with the FDA, USDA and other agencies to compile it. We’re hoping they understand this and relate it and compare it.”

Hogarth noted comments about the Web site have been mostly positive so far. He pointed out it includes at least 90 percent of the information U.S. consumers are most likely interested in.

President Bush’s Ocean Commission directed NOAA Fisheries Service with informing the public about the status of the living marine resources managed by the agency, and FishWatch is an outgrowth of that initiative.

The fourth annual Great American Seafood Cook-off, which ended Monday, was co-sponsored by NOAA to celebrate the wide variety, high quality and sustainability of domestically harvested seafood.

NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement.

To find out more about NOAA Fisheries Service, visit www.nmfs.noaa.gov.