Merriman’s Restaurants on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island will reduce the amount of wild Hawaii-caught seafood it serves by pairing wild fish with locally raised seafood for a two-month trial period starting Aug. 1. The initiative is the first of its kind to support sustainable fishing practices on the island state.
Hawai’i magazine reports that the chain will offer a sustainable seafood special consisting of a three-ounce piece of wild Hawaii-caught fish, like Mahi-Mahi, and three ounces of locally raised seafood, like sweet Kauai prawns. By limiting the amount of wild-caught fish it serves, the restaurant chain hopes to help local fishermen and island conservation efforts.
“Reducing the portion of wild fish on your plate increases the health of Hawaii’s wild fish stocks,” chef Peter Merriman said in a prepared statement. “We love Hawaii’s fish, and we want everyone to be able to enjoy these fish for years to come.”
The chain also offers two meal portion sizes as a means to reduce waste.
Hawai’i magazine reports that the initiative is the first of its kind to pledge support for the Hawaii Fish Trust Project, which works to restore near-shore seafood security in Hawaii and supports sustainable fishing practices. The trust is part of Conservation International, a nonprofit environmental organization that focuses on freshwater and food security, climate change, biodiversity and health issues.
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