Our host for the “Searching for Seastainable Seafood” series, Laurel Hatfield talks to us about her life and fills us in on why she’s such a good fit for this sustainable seafood project.

Where did you grow up and what are some of your favorite foods?

I grew up in California and 10 minutes from the beach, it was my happy place. I love seafood. Shellfish in particular, especially oysters. Because I always say that eating oysters makes me feel like I’m in the ocean. I read a book when I was a child called Island of the Blue Dolphins. And there was a girl in that book who essentially lived in the sea. And I dreamed of being her. I wanted to be a marine biologist and I wanted to live in the ocean. I kind of wanted to be a mermaid. Seafood is my favorite food hands down. I grew up eating salmon, it has so many good vitamins. From a very early age, my mother taught us children about eating healthfully and getting omega threes, all the vitamins that fish can provide. It’s such a good protein and it’s delicious. You don’t really get much better than seafood and E! I have so many things to say about California. I love it.

The “Searching for Seastainable Seafood” team met Laurel Hatfield and knew she would be a great fit as a host. Laurel is a mother of three and is concerned about the oceans and planet.

Why is sustainable seafood so important?

Yes, I have three kids and they love seafood. You know, feeding them healthy food is very important to me. And I really love the idea of finding sustainable seafood and environmentally friendly and healthy fishing practices. So that I can feed my kids and they can feed their kids and they can feed their kids. And this earth, we only get one earth. It’s the most beautiful place in the universe that we live right here. So we need to do everything we can to make sure that it continues to exist and as we know it.

What do you think about climate change, is it real and are you concerned about it?

It sure is real. It sure is real. Climate change is definitely real. And we’re already seeing the effects of climate change. And I think about my children’s future on this planet all the time. The animals are moving, lobster’s moving out of your area, salmon’s moving out of your area. I mean, they’re leaving their natural environment because of the change of temperature and what they’re used to, it can’t be good for anybody.