Red Lobster, the world’s largest seafood restaurant, announced a partnership with Ocean Conservancy Thursday, a leading ocean conservation nonprofit, to support the protection and preservation of the world’s oceans. The partnership will focus on two programs: The Global Ghost Gear Initiative, which focuses on driving solutions to the problem of lost and abandoned fishing gear, and the Trash Free Seas Alliance, which unites leaders to mitigate plastic waste entering the oceans.
This commitment to Ocean Conservancy further expands the company’s Seafood with Standards commitments beyond sourcing traceable, sustainable and responsibly-sourced seafood to include efforts to support healthy oceans. Red Lobster’s efforts extend both to its suppliers and its guests to help raise awareness of the issues impacting the oceans and collaboration to find meaningful, science-based solutions.
“Our partnership with Ocean Conservancy, and our support for the Global Ghost Gear Initiative and Trash Free Seas Alliance, are important extensions of our unwavering commitment to Seafood with Standards. It’s important that we continue to do the right thing for our oceans, for our business and for our guests so there is seafood to enjoy for generations,” says Kim Lopdrup, CEO, Red Lobster. “We’ve been dedicated to seafood sustainability since opening our doors in 1968, and we plan to continue using our leadership position and resources to drive change.”
As one of the largest restaurant purchasers of seafood in the world, Red Lobster will strongly encourage its suppliers to support projects that reduce, remove and recycle the more than 640,000 tons of fishing gear (known as “Ghost Gear”) lost or abandoned in oceans each year. In addition, Red Lobster, which was the first large casual dining restaurant company to make a commitment to eliminate plastic straws from its restaurants, will continue to evaluate the use of single use plastics and seek alternatives. Red Lobster will also help educate consumers about the impact single-use plastics can have on the oceans and marine life and encourage eco-friendly choices.
“We’re excited to partner with Red Lobster to advance our mission to tackle the negative impacts of ghost gear and plastic pollution in our ocean today,” adds Janis Searles Jones, CEO, Ocean Conservancy. “A healthy ocean requires action from companies, individuals and governments, so we must use our collective impact to fight for conservation efforts and use smart science, effective policies and engaged partners to make a difference.”
Red Lobster has been committed to sustainability since opening in 1968. Today, as the largest seafood restaurant in the world, Red Lobster remains committed to creating and upholding seafood sourcing standards that ensure availability of seafood for generations.
