Attendees of the August 5-21 Olympic and September 7-18 Paralympic Games in Brazil will be able to dine on sustainably and responsibly sourced seafood, thanks to an extraordinary effort by the Rio 2016 Olympic Organizing Committee and its partners. More than 70 tons, equivalent to over 350,000 portions, of seafood consumed by athletes and media at the Games will come from fisheries or farms that meet the requirements of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
Seafood served with the green ASC or blue MSC label can be traced right back to fisheries and aquaculture sources that are independently certified as meeting globally recognized standards for sustainable wild fishing or responsible farming. The fishermen and farmers who produce this seafood go to great lengths to reduce their impacts on the environment, preserve oceans and safeguard seafood supplies for the future.
Included on various menus within the Olympic Village, Media Village and media centers are: ASC certified responsibly farmed Brazilian tilapia from Netuno and Chilean salmon from Los Fiordos; and MSC certified wild-caught Icelandic cod from Visir and Canadian chum salmon for Albion.
Furthermore, McDonald’s Brazil will serve 100% MSC certified Argentine hoki in its McFish sandwiches throughout Brazil during the Games.
Delivering its commitment to sustainably and responsibly sourced seafood has required the Rio 2016 Olympic Organizing Committee and its partners to bring new supplies of certified seafood to Brazil. As a result, numerous farms and fisheries across the region have taken steps to improve their environmental performance in order to meet the industry leading standards set by the MSC and ASC.
Rupert Howes, chief executive of the MSC, said: “The volume of sustainably sourced seafood at this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games shows what is possible when suppliers, caterers and the public work together to support sustainable choices for people and the planet. MSC certified fisheries currently catch around one tenth of all wild seafood. We hope to see this proportion grow as recognition of the importance of sustainable seafood increases.”
Chris Ninnes, chief executive of the ASC, commented: “With this landmark commitment by the Games, local suppliers and caterers can showcase the best of Brazilian cuisine to a global audience and create lasting change by emphasizing the importance of making the right choice when buying seafood. With more than one million tons of ASC certified product in the market, the public can join the effort to preserve fish for future generations by buying from producers who share their goals to protect vital ecosystems and care for those who work on the farms and live in surrounding communities.”
