Exploramer launched the Smarter seafood program in 2009, with a focus on sustainable development and protecting the biodiversity of the St. Lawrence.
Each year, the Smarter seafood uses a specific methodology to select several species from sustainable fisheries and mariculture in Québec. Establishments in the province that feature these species are eligible for the Smarter seafood certification.
For consumers, the species list can serve as an eco-guide for informed consumption.
One of the many advantages of this program? It is adapted to the local species and practices of Québec.
Smarter seafood has four objectives:
The Eco-guide
Promote and encourage Quebecers to diversify their consumption of marine products from the St. Lawrence.
Certification
Certify restaurants, fish markets and other establishments that offer species found in the eco-guide.
Promotion
Promote sustainable fisheries and the people who work in them and celebrate the quality of Québec’s marine products.
Democratization
Link the fishing and food industries to reduce the export of our resources and contribute to Québec’s self-sufficiency in food.
How does a species get to be on the Smarter seafood list?
Each year, Exploramer gathers scientific and commercial information on the species of the St. Lawrence.
On the basis of this data and with the help of a committee of socio-scientific experts, the team evaluates each species according to four criteria. Those that meet all four criteria (and not just one or two) are eligible for inclusion on the Smarter seafood list.
Edibility
The species is edible
Suitable for consumption, good nutritional value and sufficient meat to ensure profitability.
Availability
In sufficient quantities in the St. Lawrence
No protected status from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada in either the estuary or Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Type of fishing
Respectful of the ocean floor
Sustainably caught, with gear that causes little or no disturbance to the ocean floor and provides good species selectivity.
557, boul. du Griffon, CP21 L’Anse-au-Griffon, G4X 6A5
(418) 892-0115
Capital Traiteur Montréal Inc.
Montréal, QC
159, rue Saint-Antoine Ouest, Montréal, H2Z 2A7
514-871-3111
Maestro Culinaire
Québec, QC
900, boul. René-Lévesque Est, Québec, G1R 2B5
(418) 649-7711
Capitaine Homard – Restaurant
Sainte-Flavie, QC
180, Route de la Mer, Sainte-Flavie, G0J 2L0
(418) 775-8046
Capitaine Homard – Poissonnerie
Sainte-Flavie, QC
180, Route de la Mer, Sainte-Flavie, G0J 2L0
(418) 775-8046
Café de la Grave
Havre-Aubert, QC
969, Chemin de la Grave (route 199), Havre-Aubert, G4T 9C8
(418) 937-5765
Bistro Côté Est Inc.
Kamouraska, QC
76, Av. Morel, Kamouraska, G0L 1M0
(418) 308-0739
Bistro Cerf-Cuit-Court
Carleton-sur-Mer, QC
474, boulevard Perron, Carleton-sur-Mer, G0C 1J0
(418) 364-0887
Auberge du Mange-Grenouille
Rimouski, QC
148 rue Ste-Cécile-du-Bic, Rimouski, G0L 1B0
(418) 736-5656
Auberge La Salicorne
Grande-Entrée, QC
377, Route 199, Grande-Entrée, G4T 7A5
(418) 985-2833
Au Quai 33 – Poissonnerie – Café
Drummondville, QC
3625 A Rue Georges Couture, Drummondville, J2B 8A6
(819) 313-3145
Au Pâturage – Espace Gourmand
Sainte-Perpétue, QC
2581 Rang Saint-Joseph, Sainte-Perpétue, J0C 1R0
(819) 388-8288
Atelier culinaire Pierre-Olivier Ferry
Métis-sur-Mer, Qc
164 Rue Principale, Métis-sur-Mer, G0J 1S0
(418) 732-4202
Accents Resto Bistro – Château Madelinot
Fatima, Qc
323 Québec 199, Fatima, G4T 2H6
418-986-2321
A bite in the right direction
In addition to managing the Smarter seafood program, Exploramer offers a variety of tools and activities.
At the museum, sea outings are organized to introduce participants to sustainable fishing. Additionally, the “Dare to Taste” activity has been set up to let participants try five Smarter seafood products.
Online, the Smarter seafood platform for Québec marine products was launched in 2023. It connects sellers and professional buyers to make St. Lawrence products more accessible.
During the summer, Exploramer organizes numerous boat outings to learn more about fishing and the species living in the St. Lawrence.
Credit: Exploramer
There remains a way to go for Québec marine products to earn their well-deserved place in our diet. Our challenge? Try out at least seven items from the Smarter seafood list.
To change our eating habits, we have to be bold. Are you ready?
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies such as cookies to store and/or access device information. By consenting to these technologies, we will be able to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing your consent may have a negative impact on certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
Technical access or storage is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or solely for the purpose of transmitting a communication over an electronic communications network.
Préférences
L’accès ou le stockage technique est nécessaire dans la finalité d’intérêt légitime de stocker des préférences qui ne sont pas demandées par l’abonné ou l’internaute.
Statistics
Technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.Le stockage ou l’accès technique qui est utilisé exclusivement dans des finalités statistiques anonymes. En l’absence d’une assignation à comparaître, d’une conformité volontaire de la part de votre fournisseur d’accès à internet ou d’enregistrements supplémentaires provenant d’une tierce partie, les informations stockées ou extraites à cette seule fin ne peuvent généralement pas être utilisées pour vous identifier.
Marketing
Technical access or storage is necessary to create user profiles in order to send advertisements, or to track the user on one website or on several websites with similar marketing purposes.
