An Ocean-Friendly Approach at the Seattle Aquarium

Consider this – sustainability is more than a buzz word. Sustainable practices can be a part of your venue’s character this year. Imagine sourcing local products and mitigating your carbon footprint simply by strategic relationships with regional purveyors without sacrificing the quality and flavors your patrons expect. 

The Seattle Aquarium has been a Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Partner since 2006, and Seafood Watch ratings are considered for all seafood purchases at the venue. To deepen our commitment to sustainable fisheries, we decided to go further, launching two important initiatives: transition to serving only "Best Choice" options to café and event guests, and evaluate and increase the sustainability of the seafood purchased for the animals in our care, including generating a new rating system for the carbon footprint of these products. 

We are founding members of, and have “leader” status with, the James Beard Foundation’s Smart Catch program, created with and for chefs to recognize restaurants working toward ensuring an abundant supply of seafood for generations. We recently received a grade of 100% for our seafood purchases. 

The Seattle Aquarium and Sodexo sponsored an icebreaker event for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) annual conference. Working together, we hosted the first-ever carbon-neutral icebreaker event and helped set a new standard for future conferences.