At The Fish Store our business is all about seafood, and in order for our business to thrive we are going to need a lot more of it in the years to come. That’s why when we bought the store in 2009, we became 100% Ocean Wise through the Vancouver Aquariums certification program.
It is a truth of our planet that the oceans of the world are our largest storehouse of protein, but it is also a fact that countless individuals and corporations are harvesting this protein with wanton abandon, forcing many species into extinction and destroying the habitats of a lot of others. This activity is carried on with the consent of Governments all over the world, and by the simple act of a purchase it is also condoned by individual consumers.
Since 2009, when we became seafood retailers we chose to use our position to ensure that the species and the methods of harvest of the seafood we sold would not put any further pressure on an already fragile ecosystem. We have managed to meet that goal through our participation with the Vanaqua Ocean Wise program. Every species that we stock undergoes continuous assessment by the marine biologists at the Vancouver Aquarium in respect to the harvest methods used and their impact on the environment, plus the sustainability of the species itself. In order to receive the Ocean Wise stamp of approval every species must pass this scrutiny with flying colours. For example, the tiger prawns that we carry for sale are farmed in Albama, USA. These prawns are raised in a closed containment facility that has no interaction with the ocean, unlike tiger prawns farmed in Asia, where valuable rice paddy fields are being purchased by large corporations and converted to farming prawns for export, and as a result putting more pressure on the all ready diminishing food supply of the local inhabitants.
In 2010, when we added our kitchen we carried that philosophy through to our menu and have ended up with a selection of items that are either sustainably farmed or are harvested wild from some of the most stringently managed commercial fisheries in the world.
All of our salmon, halibut and tuna are harvested locally from wild stocks, and processed right here in our store. The majority of our shellfish comes from the waters surrounding Desolation Sound and Baynes Sound. Today these areas are the perfect nurseries for B.C.’s thriving shellfish industry. Pristine wilderness together with the flushing action of tidal currents that can reach 20 MPH provide ideal conditions for raising shellfish, and the icy cold, plankton rich waters of northern Vancouver Island supply all the nourishment these shellfish need to grow into plump delicacies full of flavor.
Whether you just want to come down for a bit of lunch, snack on some deliciously fresh shucked oysters or have us pack a travel cooler full of goodies to fly home with, you can be confident that your selections have been brought to market with the well being of the ocean in mind.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU CREATE A WEST COAST ADVENTURE TO BE REMEMBERED!
Floating Fish Store / 12 Erie Street / Victoria, BC V8V4X5 / Canada / Facebook / Twitter
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