The Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Bamboo Sushi — North America’s first certified sustainable sushi restaurant — have partnered on a national promotion for World Ocean Month in June showcasing the benefits of responsibly farmed seafood.

Beginning June 5, 2025, Bamboo Sushi will present its new ASC Yellowtail Crudo on menus across all ten restaurant locations in Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado. The limited-time dish, designated by ASC’s sea green label, features The Kingfish Co.’s ASC-certified yellowtail (hiramasa) in a fresh, seasonal preparation of pickled strawberry, tomato water, fresno chile, olive oil, basil and sea salt.  

The signature dish headlines “The Certified Seafood Experience,”  a June-long initiative that invites diners to “Sea Green. Be Green.” Through in-store education, digital content and storytelling, ASC, Bamboo Sushi and regional partners like Pacific Seafood will collaborate to help sushi lovers learn more about the meaning behind ASC’s strict certification label and how responsibly farmed seafood can support healthier oceans and food systems.

“As a global nonprofit, ASC is setting the standard for seafood and a big part of that effort is helping consumers and businesses recognize the critical role responsible seafood farming plays in feeding a growing world,” said Athena Davis, North American marketing manager, ASC. “We’ve set our focus on Seattle due to the city’s rich connection to the ocean and its reverence for seafood. Many are surprised to learn that ASC’s strict standards ensure seafood farming is done with care, in a way that benefits our oceans and allows wild fish populations to repopulate and thrive. We want to deliver a message of unity by providing education on sourcing, dining and shopping for seafood with positive impacts — whether that’s wild or farmed.”

For a city that’s wild about wild fish, Seattle welcomed The Certified Seafood Experience with open arms and a shared passion for sustainable foods.

On May 20, 2025, ASC and Bamboo Sushi hosted an intimate World Ocean Month preview tasting at Bamboo’s University Village location in Seattle. More than 30 media, influencers and industry members gathered in a private dining ceremony molded around an artful menu of ASC certified yellowtail from The Kingfish Co.. Among six diverse fish dishes, from the Yellowtail Tiradito appetizer and Bamboo’s famed Green Machine Roll to a finale of Grilled Yellowtail with guajillo romesco,  guests reeled in a first taste of the soon-to-be-featured ASC Yellowtail Crudo amid conversations about seafood farming’s key role in the future of food. 

ASC’s Athena Davis brought the story of responsible seafood to life, leading a series of interviews highlighting the farm to fork journey of a traceable, certified fish. Beginning with Lauren Enz of The Kingfish Co., followed by Kady Freeze of Pacific Seafood and concluding with Elijah Lehrer, Bamboo Sushi’s Vice President of Operations, each speaker highlighted the importance of certification, transparency and quality at every step of the supply chain. 

“We thoughtfully consider our impact on people, place and planet,” said Lehrer. “Partnering with ASC for World Ocean Month brings even more visibility to the farmers, suppliers and sourcing decisions behind every dish we serve. This will continue empowering Bamboo Sushi’s guests to make informed, impactful and delicious choices.”

The World Ocean Month promotion is ASC and Bamboo Sushi’s second co-promotion, following a successful Earth Month 2023 activation. The organizations will partner again throughout October 2025 for National Seafood Month, with a Sept. 30 media preview tasting in Denver featuring ASC certified Hawaiian Kanpachi from Blue Ocean Mariculture. 

Source: Aquaculture Stewardship Council