Selecting quality seafood makes a difference when you know what to look for. Given the wide variety of fresh seafood available in British Columbia, apply these simple rules and enjoy.

For freshness, follow these simple steps:

• The appearance of the fish is bright and shiny.
• The scales should be intact and adhere close to the skin.
• The eyes should be bright, clear, and full.
• The gills should be red. Gill color fades with time.
• The smell is fresh and mild.
• The flesh is firm and elastic.

Processed fish including fillets, steaks, and meat:

• The smell is fresh and mild.
• The flesh is moist, firm, and elastic and has a fresh cut appearance.
• Packaged steaks and fillets are in tightly wrapped packages.

Look for these tips with in frozen fish:

• The flesh is solid, no discoloration or freezer burn.
• smell is fresh and mild.
• Packaging is sealed and fits closely around the product.
• Package does not contain ice crystals, or appear to have been previously thawed.
• Packaged frozen seafood may have an expiration date.