October 9, 2013 — Captain Ahab had Moby Dick. For Gorton’s, the Gloucester-based seafood company, the holy grail is the sustainable fish stick.
Fretting about supplies of Alaska pollock, tilapia, and salmon, Gorton’s turned to the New England Aquarium for help on how to promote sustainable fishing practices and responsible aquaculture. Gorton’s isn’t the first company to look to the New England Aquarium for advice. Since 2000, the aquarium has been advising the Stop & Shop supermarket chain on how to improve the sustainability of its seafood. Another consulting client of the aquarium’s: The corporate parent of the Red Lobster restaurant chain.
In fact, so many companies are seeking advice on such matters that the Boston-based aquarium now operates its Sustainable Seafood Advisory Services unit as a fee-for-service consultancy. The consultancy advises companies in the food industry on issues regarding environmentally responsible seafood and facilitates proactive changes along their supply chains to favor marine conservation.
In any case, Gorton’s and the Aquarium are marking the fifth anniversary of their collaboration with a Wednesday lunch that features such items as a fish sandwich fillet with siracha mayonnaise and grilled vegetable relish. (In the library of artisanal mayonnaises, siracha is presumably right up there.) Also on the menu: Parmesan dusted fish sticks with garlic dipping sauce. (Alas, the advance copy of the menu does not include a recommended wine pairing for the fish sticks entree.)
Read the full story at the Boston Globe