Halibut Herald

Ok so it’s 2010 and if that study published in 2006 is correct in saying that the fisheries will collapse by 2048 mainly due to human activity — over consumption, habitat loss, pollution — we don’t have much time to change our ways. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. If you wonder why it’s important to make these conscious considerations, remind yourself of all the young people in your life along with everything & all the proceeds them. What actions can you take in your life now that will affect their futures?

A good place to start is by eating right. Consider the journey your food has taken to get to your plate, there is a lot of energy put into cultivating the food until it’s ready to be harvested, weather it be plant or animal, resources are necessary. That’s just the beginning too, other factors not to be dismissed include human labour, fuel, energy in processing & packaging, and more and more FUEL.

Some people choose to give up meat a couple times a week, some choose to give it up forever. Some chose seafood as their protein alternative, but an educated choice equates only to  sustainable seafood sources.

Monterey Bay Aquarium‘s Seafood Watch program publishes a list of sustainable seafood sources and they even have it conveniently available as an iPhone app. Vancouver Aquarium‘s Ocean Wise program works with Seafood Watch, as well as, small-scale fisheries, distributors & restaurants to help everyone from chefs to consumers make an informed decision about what to eat. Not just for your conscience, but for your own health and for the health of our oceans and our planet. As Mike McDermid, Ocean Wise program manager says, “You can’t expect a business owner to be a marine biologist as well.”

In Vancouver for most of us home-cooking extraordinaries, there are just a few venues for purchasing sustainable seafood. With word of mouth by consumers though, more venues will likely open up and cater to demand by learning how to be a part of the solution.

Luckily, I’m in a position where I can conveniently ask knowledgeable folks (conservationists, scientists & researchers, AND chefs!) complicated questions and get a straightforward and happily obliged response.

Myke Shaw, Executive Sous Chef at Vancouver Aquarium was recently asked:

“We know where to dine on sustainable seafood thanks to Ocean Wise, however, where are the best places to shop for sustainable seafood in Vancouver?”

Here is her response:

Great Question! There are quite a few places in the lower main land to buy Ocean Wise sea food.

One thing I can say about places that do sell Ocean wise seafood, is that they are very knowledgeable about their food. They can tell you when it was harvested, where it is from, how long it will last, and how to store it after you get it home. This makes it so much easier to try new foods if you are new to cooking seafood.

Here is a list of places that I know of that sell Ocean wise seafood:

Seven Seas Fish Market- 2328 w. 4th. AND #103 2990 152nd. St. south Surrey http://www.7seas.ca/


South China Seas Trading Co.- 1904 Grant St. Vancouver  www.southchinaseas.ca

Lobsterman- Granville Island Vancouver  http://lobsterman.com/

Thrifty Foods- Various locations  http://www.thriftyfoods.com/

I am a firm believer that to make change in the world we have to start talking to people. Don’t be afraid to talk to your grocer, fish monger and butcher. They are a wealth of knowledge and by talking to them; they can help you make the choices you want. Ethical and sustainable options are out there; sometimes all it takes is to ask.

Happy Eating!

Sincerly, Myke Shaw
Executive Sous Chef

Hope this inspires your to dive deeper into the topic of the health of our oceans, our earth and our selves.

RELATED ARTICLES & WEBSITES

Fishing for a Solution by Lindsay Franks for Avenue Magazine

Studies See ‘Global Collapse’ of Fish Species by Cornelia Dean for NY Times

Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services by many scientists for the research journal, Science

Food Inc.

End of the Line

The Garden

PHOTO SOURCES @ C RESTAURANT, ARAXI, A KETTLE OF FISH