Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program remains influential

Of the dozens of U.S. aquaria educating the public about underwater life, the 34-year-old Monterey Bay Aquarium on California’s Central Coast is an international standout. Researchers there set the sustainable seafood standards for fishmongers and restaurants across the United States, even around the world.

It all started in 1999 with the “Fishing for Solutions” exhibition, which shared impacts of fishing and aquaculture on the health of ocean wildlife and ecosystems. Through that, the public learned Atlantic populations of halibut and yellowtail flounder were at all-time lows. The breeding population of Pacific bluefin tuna is at 4 percent of its original size and continues to decline.

Education efforts included table tents in the aquarium’s restaurant identifying which fish were endangered by dining practices. In fact, the public kept taking these guides from the tables, so the marketing department was continuously ordering more table tents.

Soon, the museum realized the Aquarium was on to something significant. And that’s how The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program began to spread.

Today, Seafood Watch reaches worldwide to help consumers and businesses choose seafood that’s fished or farmed in ways that support a healthy ocean, now and for future generations. Monterey Bay researchers identify which seafood items are best choices (green), good alternatives (yellow) or to be avoided (red).

Best choices are populations that are well-managed and caught or farmed in ways that cause little harm to habitats or other wildlife. Lake trout falls into this category.

Good alternatives raise concerns about how they’re caught or farmed. Lake Erie perch is a good alternative.

Avoid selections are overfished or caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment. Orange roughy should be avoided.

More than 60 million Seafood Watch cards bearing this information have been distributed to educate consumers. Shoppers and diners also can identify best choices using the Seafood Watch app or by visiting the seafoodwatch.org.

Euclid Fish Co. in Mentor supplies retailers and restaurants in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. They’ve been aware of the Seafood Watch program since 2015.

“It has been really eye-opening for us as our retailers and customers are looking for sustainability measurements in how, where and when our seafood has been caught,” says Charles Young, regional sales manager. “We’ve had to reformulate our marketing and operations to find more of those products and to be transparent in our sourcing.”

Shoppers at Heinen’s grocery stores will find sustainably harvested fish at the forefront. Martha Gaul, director of seafood, looks for transparency from her suppliers and makes decisions according to international standards. She even goes one step further in educating the public.

“We turn down customer requests if there is something we know isn’t fished appropriately,” she says.

Skate wing comes to mind for her.

Fire Food and Drink in Cleveland is a restaurant partner committed to Seafood Watch. To find out more, ask restaurants and retailers if they are Seafood Watch partners.

Travelers’ checks

Monterey Bay Aquarium: 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California; 831-648-4800, montereybayaquarium.org.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is at the west end of historic Cannery Row, just minutes from Carmel and Pebble Beach and a short drive from Big Sur and Highway One. The city is about 125 miles south of San Francisco and 360 miles north of Los Angeles.

To get the most for your ticket price, visit between 2 and 6 p.m. for smaller crowds. During the peak summer months, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the best days to visit.

Tickets are $49.95 for adults and $29.95 for children. Discounted for seniors and students at $39.95.