Swordfish and Chilean Sea Bass Boycott

In 1998, ASC stopped serving endangered Swordfish. Now, according to the New York Times, Swordfish stocks are recovering: populations are now 90% of what's considered a healthy level. The fish were saved by strict quotas set by an international commission after intense lobbying by nonprofits and the Clinton administration. Political pressure from corporate bans like ours enabled the recovery. Does this mean you'll be seeing Swordfish with mango-tomatillo relish at the Nell in the near future? No. Young fish need several years to mature. But once they've recovered, we'll be happy to serve a sustainably harvested fish we helped to protect.

In 2002, ASC added another fish to the boycott list: 
                                                                                 
ASC recruited eighteen Roaring Fork Valley restaurants to help save Chilean sea bass from extinction by banning it from menus. Chilean sea bass is severely overfished by "pirate" poachers. According to the National Environmental Trust, the species will be commercially extinct within two years.  Meanwhile, current fishing practices damage the surrounding ecosystem and kill numerous other species including 200,000 seabirds annually. 

"This is an opportunity as a company to make a difference outside our physical boundaries," said Pat O'Donnell, president and CEO of ASC. "Through this temporary ban, we are participating in the protection of global fisheries.  Because many people have no idea that this problem exists, we also have an opportunity to play a valuable role in educating our employees, our customers and local communities about how they too can help save a species from extinction."

Restaurants/hotels in Aspen/Snowmass and surrounding areas that have elected to participate in the ban:  

• ASC restaurants: Sam's Knob, Cirque Bar & Grill, Two Creeks Mexican Cafe, and Up 4 Pizza, Sage, Sundeck, Cloud Nine, Soup Bowl , Montagna. 
• Boogie's 
• Butch's Lobster Bar 
• Campo De Fiori
• Cache Cache
• CrystalPalace  
• Elevation    
• Goodfellows    
• Gusto    
• Hotel Jerome    
• NXT    
• Montagna Restaurant & Bar    
• Olive's     
• Conundrum    
• SIX89     
• Su Casa    
• Topper's   
• Village Smithy     
• WoodyCreek Tavern 

The boycott in Aspen will continue until a scientifically reliable estimate of the population has been compiled, illegal fishing is eliminated and vessels hunting the species stop killing endangered seabirds.