The chain that brought seafood to the masses is hoping to broaden its appeal by revamping its menu on Oct. 15 to boost the number of dishes that cater to diners who don't want seafood, and to attract customers who have cut back on spending.
Both a major buyer and processor of fish, Japan is an important link in the global seafood distribution chain. So the effects of the disaster -- including the ruined ports, roads, fisheries and processing centers -- have taken their toll on the seafood industry worldwide.
The Christian season of repentance, Lent, is underway. And with the season comes an increased demand for seafood -- as traditional followers of Lent avoid meat on Fridays. That demand has caused some restaurants to alter their menus, and seafood retailers to consider their supplies.
Shrimper John T. Christmas probably would have had a good year were it not for the BP oil spill. Now, the 60-year-old from Tarpon Springs, Fla., and thousands like him who make their livings on the Gulf, wonders if he'll have any future at all.
Gulf fishing industry officials are worried about a consumer panic. That has restaurateurs assuring diners that seafood from the greater region is safe and preventive measures are being taken. Costs, however, seem destined to rise if supplies get crimped.
At the rapid rate oil is leaking after the Deepwater Horizon rig accident, the spill will top the Exxon Valdez disaster in two months. With the slick approaching the coast, Gulf fishing businesses fear the worst.
The quirky grocery chain plans to shift all of its seafood purchases to sustainable sources by the end of 2012. This extremely welcome move could herald a shift that can help save a deeply endangered food source. But sadly, it probably won't -- because the damage to fisheries may be past the point of no return.
