Cover This World Oceans Day, let’s choose sustainable seafood to combat overfishing and other challenges threatening our oceans (Photo: Getty Images)
This World Oceans Day, let’s choose sustainable seafood to combat overfishing and other challenges threatening our oceans (Photo: Getty Images)
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With Hong Kong’s seafood industry facing overfishing and other challenges, Tatler looks at some initiatives that are championing sustainable seafood, ocean-friendly menus and marine conservation
From a sustainability angle, the seafood industry in Hong Kong faces significant challenges such as overfishing, lack of traceability and inadequate regulation. In 2022, sustainability campaign group Choose Right Today ran a survey among 20,000 food retailers and restaurants in the city and found out that only 7 per cent of them sourced sustainable seafood.
Consumers can influence the direction of the fishing industry by choosing seafood options that don’t deplete or damage our marine ecosystems. To mark World Oceans Day, which falls on June 8, let’s explore five Hong Kong initiatives that promote sustainable practices in the seafood industry to protect the oceans and marine life.
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1. Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition
The Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition (HKSSC) is a group of restaurants and suppliers across Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore established in 2018 to address sustainability concerns in the seafood industry. In support of World Oceans Day, 42 HKSSC members—including Whisk, Lobster Bar and Grill and Petrus—have joined to promote sustainable seafood consumption through featured dishes such as Obsiblue prawn at Whisk or Atlantic salmon with brioche and vin jaune at Petrus.
2. WWF Hong Kong Seafood Guide
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Hong Kong launched the first edition of its Seafood Guide in 2007. The charity evaluates the sustainability factor of the city’s commonly consumed seafood. Users can access information about the source, production method, feed, and ecological impact of specific seafood, helping them make sustainable choices. The WWF Hong Kong also works with restaurants to develop ocean-friendly menus based on the guide.
3. Accredited Fish Farm Scheme
Launched by Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) in 2005, the Accredited Fish Farm Scheme (AFFS) upholds quality and safety standards in local aquaculture farms. The AFCD routinely monitors quality at the 168 AFFS-accredited fish farms in Hong Kong.
4. Ocean Park
Ocean Park, Hong Kong’s beloved marine-themed amusement park, is also committed to conservation, providing immersive and educational experiences to visitors. The park stopped serving shark fin in 1995 to address concerns related to the overfishing of sharks and has been offering sustainable seafood options since 2009. The park also uses sustainably sourced fish in its fish dishes.
5. The Nature Conservancy Oyster Restoration project
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), which has more than 25 years of experience in the Asia-Pacific region, is currently working on four marine-related projects in Hong Kong. From managing Pak Nai, an unprotected ecological hotspot on the Yuen Long coastline to rebuilding oyster reefs from discarded oyster shells, TNC promotes sustainable ways to enjoy seafood and take action to conserve the city’s unique marine habitats.
The charity also has an Oyster Restoration project that aims to protect Hong Kong’s oyster reefs—which are considered to be one of the most endangered marine habitats in the world.
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Khoa Tran is Social Impact Editor at Tatler Hong Kong. He covers stories touching on sustainability, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and diversity. Trained as a lawyer, Khoa’s work as a writer had previously touched up topics such as regulatory compliance, ESG, and banking. Outside of the office, he enjoys rock climbing and relaxing in jazz clubs.
