Sustainability & Sourcing

At Sam Rust Seafood, sustainability is at our core..

We understand that our actions today have consequences tomorrow. This knowledge shapes our day-to-day decisions and the long-term vision for our company. For decades, Sam Rust has been proud to source from sustainable, eco-conscious vendors locally and around the world who care just as much about the future of our industry as we do.

We carefully source our products by assessing each vendor, from quality checks to sustainability efforts. We hold ourselves to a high standard and expect the same from our partners. When you buy from Sam Rust, you’ll always be in the know about the fish you purchase. Our product lists are updated daily and clearly state sustainable seafood so you can make an informed purchase decision.

By keeping our sustainability efforts fluid, we can be sure our practices are in line with the ever-changing ecosystem of the ocean. It’s crucial that our marine life has an adequate number of adults to maintain a steady reproduction rate. We need the adults to thrive so that their young can grow into a harvestable size and the reproductive cycle can continue indefinitely.

Seasonality plays a significant role in our purchasing decisions. We closely monitor the best places and times to source the highest quality seafood. No matter where we source from, sustainability always remains a top priority.

In conjunction with local, federal, and global monitoring and regulatory agencies, Sam Rust works to ensure endangered species are protected for future generations.

One of the local agencies we work with on sustainability is the Sensible Seafood Program in conjunction with the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. We partner with them to promote ocean-friendly seafood that comes from sustainable sources and help identify the best options for consumers.

Our goal is for future generations to enjoy the seafood that we enjoy today. Sustainability is an ongoing effort that will remain an important value of our company — and hopefully the industry at large — for many years to come.

For further information regarding our industry’s sustainability efforts, visit:

• Marine Stewardship Council: http://www.msc.org/
• Monterey Bay Aquarium: https://www.seafoodwatch.org/
• National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): https://www.fishwatch.gov/