Ocean Wise executive chef a finalist in the Seafood Champion Award for Advocacy

Vancouver, B.C. — Ned Bell, Ocean Wise executive chef at the Vancouver Aquarium and founder of Chefs for Oceans, is one of four finalists for the 2017 Seafood Champion Award for Advocacy, announced by SeaWeb.

The annual Seafood Champion Awards, now in its 11th year, recognizes individuals and organizations for excellence in promoting environmentally responsible seafood.

A panel of seafood sustainability experts from industry and non-profit organizations based in Asia, Europe and North America recognized Bell for his ongoing efforts to raise awareness about sustainable seafood.

RELATED: PRN Newsmaker of the Year

In 2014, he rode his bike 8,700 km across Canada, hosting 20 events alongside some of the country's best chefs, and he continues to make sustainable seafood his mission. 

"Without healthy oceans, lakes and rivers, we don't have healthy people," Bell said.

"Chefs have a unique opportunity, quite honestly a responsibility, to raise awareness and educate the people that we feed around the importance of choosing responsible seafood that helps the species, oceans and our communities thrive. Being recognized for my efforts with this nomination means a lot."  

The Seafood Champion Award for Advocacy recognizes the promotion of sustainability, use of the media to raise the profile of sustainable seafood, work to strengthen public policy and resource allocations, and championing of advances in sustainable seafood.

There are 16 finalists in four categories. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on June 5 at the SeaWeb Seafood Summit in Seattle.

"This year's finalists have a global perspective, whether they act locally or at a broader level," said Mark Spalding, president of SeaWeb and The Ocean Foundation.

"Improving seafood's sustainability requires addressing difficult political, technical, social and economic questions. To create change, you have to forge alliances and bring people together around a common cause. These are not easy things to do, but the champions on this list have forged ahead and are making real progress."

For a full list of finalists, click here.