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A plate of food next to a Chefs for Fish information card

Event

Chefs serve up support for sustainable U.S. seafood

Over 50 culinary leaders across the country are joining together to celebrate the successes of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), our country’s premier fisheries management law — and to defend it from threats in Washington D.C.

On the evening June 14, culinary leaders in Honolulu, Los Angeles, Denver, Kansas City, Cleveland, Sarasota and New York will join together to serve up support for the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), our country’s premier fisheries management law.

Two bills currently before Congress, H.R. 200 and S. 1520, would weaken the MSA’s sustainability measures that have largely ended overfishing and recovered depleted species in U.S. waters. Chefs have been particularly vocal in their opposition to these proposals, pointing out that fisheries management is not just an issue for fishermen or coastal residents — it’s a food issue.

The culinary community from landlocked states knows this better than most. Seventy-two chefs from Midwest and Mountain West states recently weighed in with a letter to Congress, urging them to maintain science-based management and accountability measures of the MSA.

"Fisheries management may seem like a weird topic for chefs to get involved in," says Danielle Leoni, chef and owner of The Breadfruit & Rum Bar in Phoenix, Arizona. "But we all love fish. And as a businessperson, I want access to a consistent supply of sustainable seafood — even though my restaurant is hundreds of miles from the nearest coast."

 

Danielle Leoni holding two large, orange fish

Chef Danielle Leoni of The Breadfruit & Rum Bar in Phoenix, Arizona shows off sustainably harvested short-spined thornyheads from California.

Chef Tony Baker at Montrio Bistro in Monterey, California

Chef Tony Baker of Montrio Bistro in Monterey, California serves cioppino made with sustainable U.S. seafood.

Synchronized serving

During the in-restaurant event on June 14, chefs like Danielle will feature sustainable, wild-caught U.S. seafood dishes and provide informational cards in their menus and check presenters celebrating the MSA’s successes. They’re also encouraging their customers to contact members of Congress to help defend healthy U.S. fisheries.

"As chefs, we have a responsibility to help push the needle further toward a more sustainable food system, and seafood is a part of that," Danielle says. "The U.S. already has a strong fishery management system in place. What we’re asking is that any changes build upon what we know works: catch limits based on the best available science, and making sure everyone stays accountable to those catch limits."

At a time when the U.S. is considered a global leader in sustainable fisheries management, it’s inspiring to see these chefs raising their voices—alongside fishermen, seafood business owners, and scientists — urging Congress to ensure our fisheries and food systems remain sustainable for future generations.

 

Chef Rick Moonen of RM Seafood, center, took to Instagram to promote strong, science-based federal fisheries management.

Chef Steven Patlan of Wild Fish in Pacific Grove, California displays wild, sustainably caught salmon

Chef Steven Patlan of Wild Fish in Pacific Grove, California displays wild, sustainably caught salmon.

Find participating chefs and restaurants in your state:

Alabama

Arizona

California

Colorado

District of Columbia

Florida

Hawaii

Illinois

Louisiana

Maine

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

  • fire food & drink, Cleveland

Oregon

Washington

 

A plate of sockeye salmon

Chef Sara Jenkins of Porsena in New York served sockeye salmon on #ChefsForFish night.

Kerry Heffernan

Chef Kerry Heffernan (left) of Grand Banks in New York served up sustainable, U.S.-caught black seabass.

Learn more about the Aquarium’s work to tackle some of the most critical issues affecting ocean health.

Featured photo: Chef Steven Patlin’s sockeye salmon special, with the #ChefsForFish menu insert, at Wild Fish in Pacific Grove, California.

This blog post was updated on June 20, 2017 to feature images from chefs participating in the #ChefsForFish event.

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