At Holland America Line, Sustainable Seafood Is A Must

Sustainability is a phrase that will get thrown round rather a lot within the cruise trade, however Holland America Line is exhibiting their dedication to raised environmental practices by turning into the primary cruise line to obtain a Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification. This announcement comes scorching on the heels of a newly fashioned partnership with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). However what does this all imply?

Sustainable fishing is an enormous deal in Alaska

“In Alaska, sustainable fishing is a necessary a part of their financial system, communities and tradition,” Jeff Regnart, RFM program supervisor, stated. “The well-being of many communities in Alaska is dependent upon wholesome wild fish shares. That’s why Alaska’s fishermen follow science-based useful resource administration that ensures long-term sustainability of the fisheries that help them.”

By solely serving RFM-certified sustainable Alaskan seafood on board, Holland America Line is solidifying their help of sustainable fishing in Alaska, safeguarding marine ecosystems and supporting the native hardworking fishermen and the greater than 60,000 Alaskans who rely on Alaska’s fisheries for his or her livelihoods. “Cruise traces can’t exist with out wholesome oceans, in order that they know that defending the seas and the encircling ecosystem is important,” Regnart stated.

“Sustainable seafood is among the many most environmentally environment friendly sources of protein on the planet,” Michael Smith, senior vice chairman of visitor experiences and product growth at Holland America Line, stated. “Selecting sustainable seafood is necessary as a result of it acknowledges and rewards sustainable fishing practices. This in flip helps livelihoods, communities, meals safety and wholesome oceans full of life. With this announcement, we hope to play a job in serving to to make sure wholesome and resilient ocean ecosystems.”

What’s sustainable seafood certification?

“Sustainable seafood certification gives the best degree of assurance that the seafood product is verified to be sustainable and accountable, is harvested legally and is traceable again to its supply,” Regnart stated. “Certification gives an goal and impartial evaluation of whether or not a wild-capture fishery or aquaculture farm meets a certification commonplace.” In Alaska, RFM is a voluntary, internationally accredited evaluation that determines whether or not or not a fishery meets the factors for accountable fisheries administration. Regnart notes that RFM Fisheries Commonplace is based on the strongest and most generally acknowledged worldwide requirements and practices, together with United Nations Meals and Agriculture Group (FAO) standards.

To attain this certification, Holland America Line’s company workplace and their vessels underwent an audit by a third-party accredited certification physique. The auditors verified the cruise line’s compliance to the RFM Fisheries Commonplace, which incorporates standards for monitoring, segregation and traceability of seafood all through the processing, distribution and advertising and marketing chain, plus correct documentation and management. “With the intention to keep certification, they are going to be topic to periodic surveillance audits over the three-year interval of their chain of custody certificates,” Regnart stated.

For Holland America Line, this certification is properly definitely worth the hurdles. “As a model that has shared the joys of Alaska with our friends for 75 years—longer than some other cruise line—we take large pleasure in having gone via the rigorous course of to attain the RFM certification,” Smith stated. “Shifting ahead, we’re serving solely contemporary, licensed sustainable and traceable wild Alaska seafood and are proud to develop into the primary cruise line ever to earn this RFM accreditation.”

Holland America Line serves lots of seafood on board

Every of the cruise line’s six Alaska ships (Westerdam, Zuiderdam, Noordam, Eurodam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Amsterdam) purchases and serves greater than 5,000 kilos of regionally sourced Alaska seafood per cruise. This consists of 2,000 kilos of Alaskan salmon, 1,000 kilos of Alaskan cod, 800 kilos of Alaskan halibut, 500 kilos of Alaskan rockfish, 400 kilos of Alaskan flounder, 400 kilos of Alaskan pollock and 200 kilos of Alaskan black cod.

Company cruising on an Alaska-bound Holland America Line ship will get to take pleasure in some new seafood dishes developed by Culinary Council Member chef Ethan Stowell and ASMI. These embody a fried Alaska cod sandwich with malt vinegar aioli and Savoy cabbage slaw; Alaskan salmon chop with cucumber, tomato, avocado, bacon and inexperienced beans; and roasted fennel crusted Alaska halibut with artichokes and Taggiasca olives.

The salmon bake dinner is a signature occasion on Holland America Line Alaskan voyages. The salmon-heavy menu consists of broiled salmon with maple glaze, salmon chowder, baked salmon in puff pastry with lemon butter sauce and clams and mussel jambalaya. Some non-salmon dishes on the menu are Campfire Ale pork stew, braised beef with wild mushrooms, heat apple pie with vanilla sauce and wild berry cobbler.

“Relating to the seafood that we serve onboard, our mission is to supply friends with the best high quality as a result of they deserve nothing however the perfect,” Smith stated. “By serving regionally sourced wild Alaska seafood, we’re capable of ship top-notch taste that’s naturally wealthy in wholesome vitamins. ”