Following our January 26 story about the difficulties many restaurants and suppliers face sourcing sustainable seafood, Anthony Sanchez, chief of staff for Berkeley city Councilmember Jesse Arreguín, wrote in to remind us that this issue has been discussed at the local government level.
“Sustainable seafood is a serious environmental issue that has luckily been brought to the public’s attention by organizations like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and good reporting,” he writes. “Also, the Berkeley City Council is interested in sustainable seafood and directed the Community Environmental Advisory Commission to deliberate the details of a possible sustainability label proposal on fish sold in retail last year. Hopefully some good will come of it.
Sanchez is referring to a July 7 2010 recommendation tabled by Arreguin which suggests referring to the Community Environmental Advisory Commission for study the issue of sustainable seafood and labeling requirements of fresh or frozen fish.
When Sanchez chased the CEAC this week, he found out that the study had not yet made it on to the agenda, which has been dominated by discussion of the West Berkeley Plan. Sanchez said he’s hopeful that sustainable seafood will get onto the agenda for this Thursday’s commission meeting.
