Merriman’s to serve less wild fish to conserve “Hawaii fish trust”

PO‘IPU — Merriman’s Fish House in Poipu and its downstair’s cafe are participating in a sustainable seafood initiative for two months to support the Hawai‘i Fish Trust Project and such efforts in Hawai‘i, a press release states.

“Reducing the portion of wild fish on your plate increases the health of Hawai‘i‘s wild fish stocks,” said chef Peter Merriman in the release.

“We love Hawai‘i’s fish, and we want everyone to be able to enjoy these fish for years to come.”

From August through September, the restaurants will offer a daily “Sustainable Seafood Special” consisting of a 3-ounce piece of wild Hawai‘i caught fish paired with 3 ounces of locally raised seafood or fish.

Locally raised options such as sweet Kaua’i prawns and Big Island Kampachi, among others will find their way onto the menu, paired with wild Hawai‘i-caught favorites such as mahi-mahi, opakapaka, lehi, monchong, uku, ono and opah to name a few.

“Continuing to use wild caught fish, just less of it, allows us to support local fisherman and conserve at the same time”, said Merriman.

In addition to the sustainable seafood specials, Merriman’s Restaurants will make an initial $5,000 donation to Conservation International’s Hawai‘i Fish Trust project, which works to restore near-shore seafood security in Hawai‘i and supports sustainable fishing practices.

Merriman’s Restaurants also purchases only “day-boat fish” caught locally through short-line trolling methods, and offers two-portion sizes on their regular menus eliminates wasted fish, the release states.

“We can all play a role in preserving the health of our oceans, even in the small everyday choices we make, like what fish we eat and how much we eat of it,” said Merriman.

This effort is the first such companywide initiative, a collaboration between Merriman’s and Handcrafted Restaurants, which includes three others on the Big Island and Maui.