Sometimes I simply can’t fight my schedule. As much as I would love to be in Ottawa with the ladies while simultaneously at every event here in Toronto… I’m just one man. But being just one person, I also understand that my choices every day can make a difference in the world. Recently, on my behalf, Julio attended the #WWFHealthyOceans dinner at Ruby Watchco with WWF Canada & MSC (Marine Stewardship Council). Similarly to my point above, the dinner was meant to make us stop and realize that making sustainable choices in our everyday life can help to make a difference in the world.
Though I was ENTIRELY jealous of the fact that Julio got to meet and hang out with Chef Lynn Crawford and WWF Canada President & CEO David Miller, it was for an amazing cause that I truly believe in. Among media friends, the night consisted of sustainable seafood prepared beautifully and a conversation that centered around the importance of sustainable food sources.
So Why is Sustainable Food important? WWF Canada said it best in the following statement:
“Globally, overfishing and unsustainable fishing practices are damaging ocean ecosystems in a way that will soon be hard to bounce back from.
If our oceans are to recover, we need to take a different approach: a way of fishing that will meet the needs of the substantial global seafood market, that will allow the communities and businesses that rely on fishing for economic survival to thrive, and that will also allow our oceans to remain abundant for generations to come.
Many fisheries have already moved to adopt this new model, changing their practices to meet standards for sustainability, and ultimately becoming certified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard for sustainable fisheries – a certification that brings many economic benefits by opening doors to a growing sustainable seafood market.”
MSC has come up with a way to fight the overfishing and depletion mentioned above in hopes that one day we can fix the mistakes of the past using sustainable methods.
Though we might not all get the chance to shuck oysters with Chef Lynn Crawford or chat with David Miller about sustainable food options, there is something we all can do. Looking for the MSC Ecolabel on your seafood choices is always a great way to ensure that you’re choosing the best product. “The MSC ecolabel means you know the fish comes from a sustainable source. No guessing or further research is needed – it’s assured. This is because only fisheries that meet the highest standards of sustainability are certified as meeting the MSC environmental standard for sustainable fishing.”
Feeling hungry yet? Moi aussi.
For more delicious recipes you can head to www.oceansfortomorrow.ca. For Canadians, I am so happy to tell you that Loblaws has partnered with MSC and has taken a stance to provide us with sustainable options.
” As the largest buyer and seller of seafood, Loblaw is helping to transform the seafood industry through its sustainable seafood commitment by sourcing all of its seafood from sustainable sources. As of May 2015, more than 93 per cent of the seafood products in core categories – fresh, frozen, canned and frozen grocery – were procured from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified sources, acceptable sources with conditions, or sources making meaningful progress toward sustainability. ”
To help you find a restaurant that believes in sustainability, make sure to check out the “Where To Buy” MSC page here. For further information on this choice you can make to help the world succeed, visit www.wwf.ca & www.msc.org
And of course, to join in on the social media conversation, make sure to follow the #WWFHealthyOceans hashtag on social media. If you are like us and feel passionately about sustainable food options and helping the world, follow @WWFCanada & @MSCecolabel on Twitter and Instagram.
For more behind the scenes of this and other amazing brands we are working with, make sure to follow along with the #DoTheDaniel Instagram account!
Photos: Ryan Emberley, WWF Canada & MSC
Cheers!