Seafood is more than just a staple in the Lowcountry- for many families, it has sustained their livelihood for generations. Whether for sustenance or for sport, local fisherman have come to know & respect the rules of the water to keep the Lowcountry seafood industry alive and thriving. The success of the seafood industry hinges upon the availability of fish each year, but across the world this is at risk, due to unhealthy- even illegal- “overfishing” practices.
Overfishing occurs when fish or shellfish are taken from the sea faster than the population can replenish. According to National Geographic, increasing demand for seafood & technological advances have led to unhealthy fishing practices that are slowly depleting fish & shellfish populations. The South Carolina Aquarium has taken important strides to fight this problem, most notably with the introduction of their Good Catch platform. This multi-tiered program broadcasts the importance of sustainable seafood, and incentivizes local restaurants and purveyors to work hand-in-hand to serve & support sustainably caught local seafood.
SC Aquarium (SCA) Good Catch program defines “local” seafood is sourced from the south eastern US, from North Carolina to the east coast of Florida. According to the SCA, fisheries in these areas adhere to some of the strongest regulations worldwide, which take into consideration the long-term viability of each species and the ocean’s ecological balance as a whole. They commit to harvesting only “good catch” fish within the appropriate age-range, quantity & season.
The SC Aquarium’s Good Catch program invites restaurant & purveyors to achieve status according to the sustainability of their annual seafood inventory. The platform rates Good Catch partners on three levels:
Basic: A third of seafood is sourced from southeast regional fisheries
Gold: Half of seafood is from southeast regional fisheries
Platinum: At least half of seafood inventory is sourced locally, and items such as plastic bags, styrofoam, and plastic straws have been omitted, & plastic cutlery are by request, only.
We’re thrilled to partner in the SCA in their Good Catch mission, with our signature restaurant Coastal Provision’s Platinum Good Catch status. Chef de Cuisine, Read Wolfe, a fisherman himself, works hard to support local and regional purveyors, carefully selecting ingredients that are both fresh & true to our place. Chef Read and his team take pride in sharing their love of fresh, local seafood & shellfish from the waters just beyond our island.
For more information about the Good Catch program, visit the SC Aquarium website. To taste the sustainable seafood difference, make a reservation with us at Coastal Provisions.