A Happy-but-Concerned Customer

For some time now, I've made it a policy not to eat bluefin tuna. My wife will tell you that whenever we try a new sushi restaurant, I embarrass her by asking the waiter whether the maguro on their menu is bluefin or yellowfin tuna. Fortunately, most places serve the latter.

Two things happened recently that have me stepping it up a notch. First, I heard yet another news piece on the sorry state of the bluefin fisheries. Second, I was offered some bluefin at restaurant where I was attending an event. I decided to write them a letter. The following will be going in the mail tomorrow:

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To whom it may concern,
I recently attended an event at your restaurant, and I would like to thank you and your staff for a wonderful evening. The food served was delicious, and the staff was courteous, pleasant, and efficient.

I would also like to share my dismay upon seeing that you were offering bluefin tuna on the menu. This species is dangerously overfished, with some fisheries on the verge of collapse. I strongly urge you to consider purchasing albacore, yellowfin, bigeye, or other tuna species as alternatives to bluefin.

For more information on the condition of bluefin fisheries, see: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE53D00320090414.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch (http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_regional.aspx) and the Marine Stewardship Council (http://www.msc.org/cook-eat-enjoy/fish-to-eat) have more information about sustainable seafood choices.

Sincerely,
Rick Warren