May 25, 2007

 

AQUARIUM’S SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD PROGRAM LAUNCHES ON VANCOUVER ISLAND AT THE FAIRMONT EMPRESS

Victoria, BC: The Vancouver Aquarium launched its wildly successful conservation initiative, Ocean Wise, in Victoria yesterday at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, a leading partner on the island. 

Ocean Wise enables participating restaurants and their patrons to make environmentally friendly seafood choices. The program works individually with restaurant and market partners to ensure that they have the most up-to-date information about sustainable seafood – species that are caught in ways that minimize environmental impact and ensure the future health of the oceans. Ocean Wise participants commit to highlighting sustainable options on their menus with the Ocean Wise logo, making it easy for their patrons to choose ocean-friendly seafood.

At the Victoria launch, guests enjoyed sustainable seafood prepared by top chefs from some of the program’s newest restaurant partners including Lure, the Landing, Spinnakers, Cactus Club, Marina Restaurant and the Fairmont Empress. 

Originally launched in Vancouver in January 2005, the Ocean Wise program now has 65 participating members, for a total of 80 restaurant locations, plus Capers Community Markets, the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, and Simon Fraser University food services. Victoria patrons can expect to see the Ocean Wise logo in local restaurants beginning in July.