Cruising isn’t exactly known for its sustainability, but Holland America Line is hoping to change one small part of it for the better.
On Monday, Holland America Line announced it’s “elevating its award-winning dining experience” not by introducing new dishes, but by becoming the first global cruise line to receive both Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certifications.
The new MSC label means the fish used onboard the ships is “from a fishery that has been independently assessed on its impacts to wild fish populations and the ecosystems they're part of,” the organization’s website explains. To gain the certification, a fishery must comply with the organization’s three principles: “only fishing healthy stocks, being well-managed so stocks can be fished for the long-term, and minimizing their impact on other species and the wider ecosystem.”
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HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
As for the ASC certification, that means that the fish comes from a farm that is “independently assessed against every requirement in their species-specific ASC standard,” the ASC website explains. ASC-certified farms must meet strict environmental regulations, ensuring the seafood is good for you and the planet.
The program, the cruise line shared, is yet another extension of its promise to bring guests the freshest seafood possible. In 2023, it announced its Global Fresh Fish Program in partnership with celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto, which promised to bring fresh fish to every diner’s plate from the closest docks in less than 48 hours. As Food & Wine previously explained, that means if you're sailing through the Caribbean, you'll get to taste local yellowtail snapper, while in Alaska, you can enjoy sockeye salmon, and in Greece, you can expect lavraki to be on the menu.
“Our guests care about the quality and sustainability of the fresh fish we serve, and so do we,” Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line, shared in a statement provided to Food & Wine. “These certifications build on our commitment of bringing regionally inspired fresh seafood dishes from port to plate in 48 hours. We’re proud to partner with two organizations that share our dedication to protecting the vitality of the oceans we sail.”
As of right now, all 11 ships in the company’s fleet are Chain of Custody certified to serve MSC and ASC-certified and labeled seafood. The full rollout will start across five Holland America Line ships in May 2024, beginning with cruises in Europe and the Canada/New England region. Holland America Line’s six ships in Alaska already serve 100% sustainable seafood under its Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification.
Guests will know exactly what they are dining on thanks to new onboard menus indicating the type of certification with a symbol marked next to the dish using the MSC blue fish, the ASC’s sea green, and RFM’s logo. And though the company shares that not all seafood species aboard Holland America Line are currently certified, they are “working toward 100% accreditation of species that are eligible to meet the organizations’ standards.”
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