Valentine’s Day: Sustainable Seafood Guide

Each Valentine’s Day, it’s estimated that consumers spend $1.7 billion dollars on candy and $2.1 billion dollars on flowers alone. This doesn’t include the popular celebration item – balloons. Unfortunately, candy and balloons produce waste, which often ends up in our oceans. In January and February of 2019, LMC collected 110 balloons during the Center’s beach cleanups. Balloons, which are common gifts for Valentine’s Day, pollute our oceans and pose a threat to marine life.

This year, ditch the heart-shaped balloons, and other items that create waste. Instead, celebrate love with a sustainable meal this Valentine’s Day weekend! With the help of Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) and our Blue Table Program partners, you can help reduce your environmental impact during the holiday weekend.

Blue Table Program

From shore to sea, LMC’s Blue Table Program (BTP) strives to serve as a bridge between businesses and the marine environment by implementing environmentally friendly changes that will have lasting, positive effects on one of the world’s most important resources: the ocean.

The purpose of the BTP is to bring ocean friendly practices into local restaurants in Palm Beach County that will mutually benefit both the restaurant and the environment. We strive to create a plastic-free, styrofoam-free restaurant setting, while also encouraging sustainable seafood and local produce options.

Blue Table Partners

Thanks to our founding BTP partners, locals and travelers can enjoy Valentine’s Day weekend celebrations in a sustainable fashion.

• 1000 NORTH 
• The Cooper Restaurant 
• Papa Kwans Coffee Shop 
• Carve Surf and Coffee 
• Tommy Bahama 
• Hog Snappers 
• Cucina Cabana 

Hog Snappers Shack and Sushi

For the Valentine’s Day celebrators who aren’t able to make a reservation or want to enjoy a special night in, Hog Snappers Shack and Sushi has offered up their Lionfish Ceviche recipe, a menu item that was created from a recommendation by LMC.

Lionfish are considered a sustainable seafood choice, due to their status as an invasive species in South Florida waters. Purchasing and consuming lionfish in South Florida helps to reduce the lionfish population, which causes damage to our coral reefs, sea grasses and mangroves. In South Florida, customers can find lionfish at their local Whole Foods. Enjoy a “grade A” Valentine’s Day dinner that’s sustainable too!

Lionfish Ceviche Recipe

3oz lionfish 
2oz cup of slice red onion 
2oz cup of diced tomatoes
2oz cup of diced cucumber 
2oz cup of diced mango1/4 of avocado
Cilantro 
Jalapeños to taste 
2oz fresh squeeze lemon juice 
Salt and pepper to taste 
1/2 squeeze fresh orange 

Note: Add lionfish, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Let sit until desired marination. Add the rest of the ingredients to the fish mixture and serve immediately.

Contact

To become a Blue Table Program partner, please contact Katie O’Hara at kohara@marinelife.org.