New “Ocean Wise” program in Canada

JUNE 13 — The Vancouver Aquarium in Canada has created a program to educate consumers and help restaurants choose sustainable responsibly harvested fish and seafood. The Ocean Wise program lists wild Pacific albacore as a recommended choice.

“We have already depleted over 90 percent of large, predatory fish,” said Ocean Wise coordinator Theodora Geach. “We must take immediate action to change our behaviors to ensure that fish stocks are available now, and for generations to come.”

According to Fast Forward Weekly, the Ocean Wise program is supported by more than 110 restaurants, markets, and food service outlets in the province of Alberta — even though it’s a landlocked Canadian province. Nationwide, Canada has 480 Ocean Wise members and 3,100 restaurants signed up.

Ocean Wise choices include halibut, sablefish, and albacore tuna — along with scallops, oysters, and spot prawns. The criteria for Ocean Wise designation include species that are:
1.  Abundant and resilient to fishing pressures
2. Well managed with a comprehensive management plan based on current research
3. Harvested in a method that ensures limited bycatch on non-target and endangered species
4. Harvested in ways that limit damage to marine or aquatic habitats and negative interactions with other species

More information on the program is available at oceanwise.ca