Attendees of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will enjoy the most sustainable seafood offering to date of any previous Olympic or Paralympic Games.
More than 70 tonnes, equivalent to more than 350,000 portions, of seafood served to athletes and media at the Games will come from fisheries or farms which meet the requirements of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
Julie Duffus, sustainability manager at the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games said: “Millions of people attending this year’s Games will be able to enjoy sustainably and responsibly sourced seafood knowing that they are helping to support thriving fishing and farming communities and to protect the environment. By choosing seafood with the MSC or ASC label they will reward responsible producers from around the world.”
Included on various menus within the Olympic Village, Media Village and media centres will be ASC certified responsibly farmed Brazilian tilapia from Netuno and Chilean salmon from Los Fiordos; and MSC certified wild-caught Icelandic cod from Visir and Canadian chum salmon for Albion. McDonalds Brazil will also serve 100% MSC certified Argentine hoki in its McFish sandwiches throughout Brazil during the Games.
Delivering its commitment to sustainably and responsibly sourced seafood has required the Rio 2016 Olympic Organizing Committee and its partners to bring new supplies of certified seafood to Brazil. As a result, numerous farms and fisheries across the region have taken steps to improve their environmental performance in order to meet the industry leading standards set by the MSC and ASC.
Ms Duffus added: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games are unique in their ability to bridge cultural divides, reach a broad audience and generate a sense of fellowship and possibility. We hope that this commitment will have a lasting legacy of sustainable sourcing and seafood consumption in Brazil.”
