Monterey Bay Aquarium: Seafood Watch Program — Attraction in Monterey

🎯 Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program: Where Smart Choices Meet Ocean Swagger

If you're in the business of making decisions that matter whether it's cargo pricing or choosing tonight’s sushi Seafood Watch is your backstage pass to sustainable seafood. Born from the brilliant minds at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, this program doesn’t just talk conservation it models it.

🟢 Green means go: Their rating system is a strategist’s dream green for go, yellow for caution, red for “don’t even think about it.” It’s like a traffic light for your plate, backed by rigorous science and global data.

📊 Data-driven deliciousness: Whether you're sourcing shrimp or scouting salmon, Seafood Watch evaluates environmental impact across fisheries and aquaculture. That means you’re not just eating you’re investing in ocean health.

🌍 Global impact, local action: From small-scale shrimp farms to big-league seafood suppliers, the program incentivizes better practices and transparency. It’s not just about fish it’s about fairness, sustainability, and future-proofing the entire supply chain.

📱 Tools for the savvy: Their guides and mobile tools make it ridiculously easy to check ratings on the fly. Whether you're at a restaurant or negotiating logistics, you’ve got instant access to...

Peaceful & very informative, but can be quite crowded in the summer & on weekends. We usually go for an hour after school on a weekday.

Even if you're somewhat of a local, the membership is worth it (and tax deductible).

The jellyfish are magical & ancient. The sea otter: playful, surprisingly graceful, and mischievous. The octopus? Hauntingly beautiful, mystical, wise, seemingly melancholy, and elusive (you feel blessed to catch sight of an active one, stretching outside the boundaries of its niched recesses). If you need to lower your blood pressure, just watch the kelp dance and sway for ~5 minutes.

For being a pioneer in environmentally responsible cuisine with their Seafood Watch program, I'm surprised the Cafe doesn't offer much plant-based options (even the veggie burger bun isn't vegan). I reckon we all have some aspect in our lives that needs improving, even the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium. You can pack a picnic, store it in a locker, come outside for a lunch break, a re-enter with a stamped hand, at least.

For a fun film connection, watch my favorite Star Trek Movie: Star Trek IV, which was filmed there, back when it was newly built. I wouldn't be at all surprised if alien life forms spoke to Humpback whales. But that's a whole other conversation, for...

This was the worst money spent on our vacation.

The facility was overcrowded. While staff enforced mask wearing, it seems no other COVID precautions were in place. There were so many people it was impossible to maintain any reasonable social distance. Multiple hand sanitizer stations were empty during our visit.

The animals are kept in conditions that seem like there is no concern for their well-being. They are kept in small enclosures. There are some displays where we saw people reach their hands in and grab the animals, or slap at the water. There was a sign that said do not grab the animals, but there were no staff enforcing that. We also saw both adults and children banging on glass and no staff intervened.

There are several displays where the fish are absurdly overcrowded and there is nothing in the tank except fish swimming around and around in a tank filled only with water. No plants. No rocks. Nothing to mimic their natural environment.

I thought that this facility was supposed to be an educational experience, especially for children. By allowing children to behave this way and to treat the animals this way, what are they...