As the fish stocks are declining from world’s oceans it is very hard to keep regular flow of fish to the diners’ plates. But Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, which buys seafood around the globe for Red Lobster, Olive Garden and other chains, is grappling with the issue smartly.
Experts admit that Darden is generally viewed as a leader in environmentally responsible fishing and farming. Food-service consultant Dennis Lombardi said that Darden has to take a key role in seafood sustainability. He added that the role Darden is playing is not just because of social responsibility and corporate responsibility but necessity — because they are such a big consumer of it.
Darden works with many environmental groups and has provided$5 million for a variety of marine research and restoration projects through its environmental trust. Tim Fitzgerald, a marine scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund, said that seafood is probably one of the two or three ways that people experience the ocean.
Darden says that fish farming, or aquaculture, is a key way it will meet future demand. Darden drew praise for being the first major restaurant company to adopt the standards, though some have criticized those standards. Darden has decided not to offer some problematic species of fish at Red Lobster and other chains, such as orange roughy.
