Protecting Our Oceans
SUSTAINABILITY
We make responsible seafood purchase a core value of our operation
Certification & Advisory Programs
At Bluewater our ultimate goal is to use only fish selected by the Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA) Seafood Watch Program as Best Choices or Good Alternatives or approved by other certifying organizations. Currently, the fish we purchase are selected in order to fit criteria of sustainability, environmental impact and ethical/best aquaculture practices (BAP) and harvest guidelines. Industry is rapidly moving towards achieving certification to gain approval for fisheries and farming operations to meet environmental standards for well-managed and sustainable fisheries with Seafood Watch and other organizations. As a result, Bluewater Grill is working closely with its vendors to meet 100% of its objectives.
Oyster Shell Recycling
Shells for Shorelines is an oyster recycling program that collects donated oyster shells from restaurants and repurposes them for native oyster restoration projects in Southern California. Oyster reefs in California have declined by 85% due to overharvesting, habitat destruction, and water quality degradation. Oysters play a crucial role in maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems; they help buffer shorelines from erosion caused by storms and waves, remove pollutants to improve water clarity, and provide vital nursery grounds for fish and shellfish, thereby promoting biodiversity.
Innovative ideas like Living Shorelines projects can help stabilize sediment, reduce flooding threats, and provide other ecosystem services that are critically important by strategically placing natural materials. After people enjoy freshly shucked oysters and shellfish at restaurants, Orange County Coastkeeper collects the oyster shells and transports them to a drying facility. There, the shells cure in the sunshine for one year, undergoing a natural process that eliminates harmful pathogens and organisms. Finally, the shells are repurposed for projects like creating critical oyster beds for Living Shorelines and shell string installations.
Bluewater launched this program in June 2024 at the Newport location and has recycled over 2,000lbs of oyster shells in just four months. We plan on expanding the program at all our Bluewater locations.
PILIKIA
Our own Swordfish Harpoon & Deep Drop Buoy Boat plying the waters off Catalina
Unlike nets and long lines, harpooned swordfish is a 100% sustainable method of fishing with no-by catch and is ultra-fresh.
Meaning “trouble” in Hawaiian, our boat was custom built in Hoquiam, Washington and supplies our restaurants with direct access to the freshest swordfish for the summer seasons. Selectively harvesting mature fish and processing them only minutes later, the fish is quick cooled in on board refrigerators and rushed to the restaurants same day giving real meaning to “boat to plate fresh.”
The Right Suppliers: Harvesting Methods
Our suppliers are selected on the grounds that they have a sustainable approach to purchasing from fishermen whose fish must come from fisheries using environmentally responsible harvesting methods. We choose species that we are confident are sustainable in the area from which they are harvested. When available, we feature Deep Buoy fish – an alternative way to catch swordfish with less bycatch than traditional methods. This innovative approach is far less destructive to whales, sea turtles and other marine life. Watch the video above to learn more.