The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Bamboo Sushi, a restaurant chain with 10 locations across four U.S. states, are partnering to promote responsibly farmed seafood in honor of World Ocean Month in June.
The goal of the "Sea Green. Be Green." initiative is to help consumers understand the meaning of ASC’s strict certification system and how choosing certified seafood can support a healthy ocean.
It will involve in-store education materials developed by ASC, Bamboo Sushi, and other regional partners like Pacific Seafood and feature preview tastings of unique certified seafood preparations, such as the fully ASC-backed yellowtail crudo that Bamboo Sushi will be showcasing in June, which features The Kingfish Company’s ASC-certified yellowtail.
"As a global nonprofit, ASC is setting the standard for seafood and a big part of that effort is helping consumers and businesses recognize the critical role responsible seafood farming plays in feeding a growing world," ASC North American Marketing Manager Athena Davis said. "We’ve set our focus on Seattle due to the city’s rich connection to the ocean and its reverence for seafood. Many are surprised to learn that ASC’s strict standards ensure seafood farming is done with care in a way that benefits our oceans and allows wild fish populations to repopulate and thrive."
A 20 May preview tasting at Bamboo Sushi’s Seattle location brought over 30 seafood industry stakeholders to a private dining event. The partners are aiming to convince a city that loves wild seafood that responsibly farmed seafood has a role to play in both protecting wild stocks and feeding the population.
“We thoughtfully consider our impact on people, place, and planet,” Elijah Lehrer, Bamboo Sushi’s vice president of operations, said. “Partnering with ASC for World Ocean Month brings even more visibility to the farmers, suppliers, and sourcing decisions behind every dish we serve. This will continue empowering Bamboo Sushi’s guests to make informed, impactful and delicious choices.”
ASC and Bamboo Sushi have partnered together before and will collaborate again on a National Seafood Month promotion this October.
