"Project Fishmap" on the iPhone
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 If you have an iPhone (or iPod Touch) and haven't already downloaded the Seafood Watch App, you are missing out an exciting new feature which allows you to share the locations of restaurants and markets where you have found sustainable seafood. The feature is called "Project Fishmap" and is an excellent way for you to find sustainable seafood next time you are eating out, or preparing something yourself! There are more than a million restaurants and markets already built in (and you can add stores if your local favorites aren't listed) so what are you waiting for? Download the app (it's free!) and never wonder where to buy sustainable seafood!
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Have You Heard About FishChoice?
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FishChoice.com, a FishWise non-profit (NGO) Partner, is a unique service as it is the first ever
business-to-business online sourcing tool to exclusively feature seafood products that meet the sustainability criteria and/or are certified as sustainable by globally respected environmental organizations. Membership is currently free and the benefits are plain to see.
For producers, all of the products you sell that meet the standards or certifications by our partner organizations can be quickly added for free, which means buyers looking for sustainable products will be lead straight to your door. Upon registration, retailers and distributors will receive free, instant access to FishChoice's list of sustainable seafood products.
FishChoice aims to make seafood purchasing easier and more accessible and to reward sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices. Twice each month, FishChoice issues newsletters featuring suppliers who have committed to sustainability within their operations and organizations. This past month, FishChoice was happy to feature Passmore Ranch, a FishWise producer partner.You can see their feature here.
Please visit their website to learn more.
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| Updated Seafood Watch Rankings for Mexican Scallops | |
The follo wing updates have been made to the Seafood Watch rankings:
Mexican Sea Scallops (Nodipecten subnodosus) caught by divers in Mexico - Laguna Ojo de Liebre and Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur are now a Green Ranked "Best Choice."
These scallops are a great alternative to Atlantic Sea Scallops which are usually caught using bottom trawls and/or dredges which can negatively affect the seafloor habitat.
Additionally, Mexican Bay Scallops (Argopecten ventricosus) caught by divers (hand method) in Mexico-Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur are now a Yellow Ranked "Good Alternative." Keep a look out for both of these items at your local fish counter and restaurants. |
| Partner Spotlight - Surf Supermarket | |
Surf Supermarket is a high-end specialty grocer in Gualala, Northern California. Since 2006, Surf Supermarket has been working with FishWise in an effort to strengthen the retailer's commi tment to sustainability and ocean conservation. Surf Supermarket is committed to offering the highest quality food and excellent customer service.
Environmental responsibility is one of their highest priorities and this is evidenced by the hard work and commitment to sustainability shown by seafood manager, Alfredo Orozco and Owner, Steve May, who recently sailed from California to Australia. This trip solidified his commitment to ocean health, and he has since donated generously to Ocean Conservancy and signed up to numerous petitions and initiatives.
Next time you are in the area, please drop in and check out the fine selection of seafood from a store that is truly advancing leadership in sustainable seafood.
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Shark Fin(ished) in California?
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In early February, Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Mountain View, made plans to introduce a bill that would ban the possession, sale, trade and distribution of of shark fins in California.
 | | 2009 Mohd Halimi Abdullah/Marine Photobank. |
Shark fin is particularly popular amongst Chinese consumers, who associate the rare foodstuff with weddings and other momentous occasions. The product is the primary component of shark fin soup, which is made with the softened cartilage and other tissue around the fins. The demand for shark fin has led to prices upwards of $500lb (for dried product) in San Francisco's Chinatown and because of this, illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU) has become commonplace. Most disturbingly, in order to reserve as much stowage as possible on board fishing vessels for fins, sharks are often caught, their fins removed and then unceremoniously dumped back into the ocean alive. Sharks cannot withstand great fishing pressure. They reproduce late in life and exist as a top predator in the oceans, the removal of which may have far reaching yet little understood consequences. Over the coming months, we will keep you updated on ways you can support the bill through our facebook and twitter pages. In the meantime, you can read more about the proposed legislature here.
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If you have any questions, comments, or would like to contribute to the FishWise monthly update so other members can hear about your experience, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Sincerely,
Mariah Boyle
Assistant Operations Director
FishWise
Office: 831.427.1707
Email: m.boyle@fishwise.org |
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