Chef Q&A for National Seafood Month - Oceana USA
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It’s National Seafood Month! For the month of October, we celebrate seafood. Why? Because it’s good for you, good for the economy, and good for the world. In the U.S. alone, the fishing industry provides nearly 2 million jobs and over $250 billion to the economy. But seafood can be problematic when it’s illegally caught, mislabeled or produced using forced labor or other human rights abuses.

The U.S. is the second-largest consumer of seafood in the world, so what we choose to put on our plates can make a difference. There are many different ways you can celebrate National Seafood Month, whether it’s learning more about the where your seafood comes from, adding more seafood to your diet, or supporting your local businesses that commit to seafood that is safe, legally caught, responsibly sourced and honestly labeled.

To highlight National Seafood Month, we are featuring seafood businesses that showcase what responsible fishing means to them personally and professionally.  Click the images below to open the interviews.

Michael Cimarusti, Providence and Connie & Ted’s

Los Angeles, California

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Michael Cimarusti is co-owner and chef for Providence and Connie & Ted’s in Los Angeles, California. Providence recently celebrated 17 years of service. Learn more at providencela.com

Deborah Keller, OysterMom

Tallahassee, Florida

Keller is a founding farmer in the Florida oyster aquaculture business. As OysterMom, she has been bringing fresh oysters to Tallahassee and surrounding areas of the Florida panhandle since 2016. “Know your farmers!” is her mantra. Learn more at oystermom.com

Dave Snyder, Halyard Restaurant Group

St. Simons Island, Georgia

 

David Snyder is a chef and owner of Halyard Restaurant Group on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Learn more at halyardrestaurantgroup.com

Now it’s your turn. Celebrate National Seafood Month by taking action.

From boat to plate, it’s clear that people throughout the seafood supply chain care a lot about where their seafood is coming from and how it’s sourced for themselves and their customers. Whether you’ve been a long-time responsible seafood advocate or are newly inspired, you can help make a difference in achieving our goal to strengthen protections for ocean life and safe, responsible seafood sources.

Become a wavemaker, and sign a petition to  Congress to pass several pieces of important ocean legislation before time runs out. The ocean package includes a ban on the buying and selling of shark fins in the U.S.; stronger tools to compel other countries to prevent illegal fishing by their fleets; and ending the use of deadly and destructive large mesh drift gillnets in U.S. waters that kill whales and other marine wildlife.

Add your name to urge your members of Congress to get this bipartisan ocean package over the finish line, before it’s too late >>

Are you a business owner who wants to get involved? Join Oceana’s National Business Coalition for the Oceans. The National Business Coalition for the Oceans unites businesses from across the country to win policy victories that protect our oceans and coastal communities. Oceana and its business partners, like those featured in this piece, will work together and fight for ocean health, which underpins restaurants, seafood suppliers, coastal recreation, tourism, fishing, and so many related industries. Learn more and join today at oceana.org/businesscoalition