The certification is a huge milestone for the restaurant that has set itself apart as one of the best seafood restaurants in the Scotland. Dakota designs its menus around sustainability wherever possible. Over the next few years, they hope that it will become much easier to choose MSC certified Scottish seafood for the menu as increasing numbers of Scottish fisheries become MSC certified.
The MSC’s fishery certification programme recognises and rewards sustainable fishing by creating market demand for MSC eco-labelled seafood, encouraging people to look for the MSC logo on seafood in shops and restaurants. By achieving the MSC’s standard for traceability, Dakota Forth Bridge ensures that MSC fish is identified and kept separate from non-MSC fish, all the way through the kitchen from delivery, to storage, cooking and serving with records proving the traceability to their auditors every year. For diners, this means they can rest assured that when eating at Dakota Forth Bridge, all seafood showing the MSC logo has been sourced from sustainable fisheries.
Working with the MSC has also allowed Dakota Forth Bridge to consider handling and waste policies even more carefully than they have ever before. The restaurant is now committed to a no-waste policy, adding further to their environmental credentials.
Dakota Forth Bridge Chef Director, Roy Brett, has been working with his team to achieve this excellence in seafood traceability.
Roy comments; “We are pleased to do our bit to champion the cause of sustainable fishing. I’d like to see more Scottish fisheries going forward for certification so that we can improve the range of MSC labelled dishes on our menu – I prefer to use locally caught seafood where possible. One day it would be great to have only MSC fish on the menu! We understand that this is just the start of a new chapter for Dakota Forth Bridge and with the MSC’s support we can begin to develop our understanding of sustainability and continue to work as ethically as possible.
He continues; “We are looking into introducing Alaskan salmon, Hastings Dover sole and Cornish mackerel onto the menu because these fisheries are already certified. Listening to and working closely with the MSC and our suppliers means that we know the best time to buy different varieties and species of seafood. In turn, this also gives our guests the opportunity to try something new and experience the freshest of flavours, knowing that the team at Dakota are doing their best to source responsibly.”
Laura Stewart, Foodservice and Scotland Manager at MSC adds; “I am delighted that Dakota Forth Bridge has been certified for MSC Chain of Custody. Seafood sustainability is a hot topic at the moment. I hope that this leadership will inspire other restaurants to get certified too, to demonstrate best practice in seafood sourcing and creating more sustainable choices for diners.
“Consumers increasingly do not want to contribute to the social and environmental problems of overfishing and the MSC logo on the menu provides them with the assurance they need to know they are making the best environmental choice when dining out.”
