On February 3rd, 2017, the Monterey Bay Aquarium restaurant and cafe teamed up with Surfrider and was certified as an ocean friendly restaurant. To be certified as an ocean friendly restaurant, restaurants have to comply to mandatory criteria. The restaurants that qualify don’t use Polystyrene (styrofoam), use proper recycling techniques, only reusable tableware is used, and no plastic bags. Optional criteria includes using plastic straws only upon request, discounts for customers with reusable cups, no beverages sold in plastic bottles, vegetarian food options, water conservation efforts, and energy efficient lights. Only four of the optional criteria are needed for a certification of being an ocean friendly restaurant. The Aquarium is one of many restaurants to be seen as ocean friendly and it will not be the last.
Written by students at our partner Chartwell School.