2:46 p.m., July 8, 2008--The UD community will soon have sustainable food from the sea in its dining halls.

ARAMARK, the professional facilities management and food-service company that operates UD Dining Services, has signed a partnership agreement with the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California to shift its U.S. seafood purchases toward sustainable sources over the next decade. That means ARAMARK'S food managers will purchase only seafood choices that do not endanger species or pose potential environmental problems.

The agreement comes just weeks after the University released its Path to Prominence™ strategic plan calling for UD to make sustainability a priority in academics and on its campuses.

Sue Bogan, director of UD Dining Services, said this partnership means that anyone who buys a meal on campus can be certain that the seafood they order supports a sustainable planet.

“This program not only recognizes a serious environmental concern, it also showcases our commitment to the University's sustainable efforts and the long-term goals that the administration has established to become a 'green' university," Bogan said.

ARAMARK's agreement with the Monterey Bay Aquarium means that during the next 10 years, ARAMARK's U.S. food supply businesses will buy only seafood and fish on the aquarium's Seafood Watch list [www.seafoodwatch.org].

Aquarium staff compile the list using government documents and journal articles and by making personal contact with fishery and fish farm experts. Then, the information is run through the aquarium's criteria for sustainability and a recommendation is developed.

Recommendations based on how overfished a species is and/or how ecologically sound wild caught or farmed fishing practices include “Best Choice,” “Good Alternative” and “Avoid.”

As part of the partnership, ARAMARK has begun to shift its seafood purchases toward sustainable sources. The company will complete the transition by 2018. ARAMARK's operations in the United States employ about 180,000 people and serve tens of millions of consumers at businesses, universities, schools, sports and entertainment facilities, parks and other locations.

“We're delighted to partner with ARAMARK and help the company fulfill its commitment to serving seafood that comes from sustainable wild and farmed sources,” said Michael Sutton, director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Center for the Future of the Oceans.

The aquarium will help ARAMARK make the transition by providing timely, expert information about what sustainable seafood is available in the market, advice and assistance about finding sources of sustainable seafood and providing staff support and a suite of programs to help ARAMARK with staff training and education efforts among its clients and customers.

ARAMARK is already working with its suppliers, chefs and managers to:

• Identify and encourage the purchase of seafood listed on the aquarium's “Best Choices” and “Good Alternatives” lists and discourage purchase of seafood on the “Avoid” list;
• Combine operator feedback and aquarium research so that seafood recommendations are progressive and achievable;
• Create marketing and training materials for managers and front-line staff that clearly convey ARAMARK's commitment to sustainable seafood; and
• Distribute the Aquarium's Seafood Watch consumer pocket guides to its customers.

The online guide can be found at [www.seafoodwatch.org].