SEASTAINABLE Co-host Michael Opal, talks to us about his career and fills us in on this sustainable seafood project.

Where did you grow up and what were some of your jobs over the years?

I grew up in Long Island and NYC. My first job was in a restaurant and at 16 as an elevator operator. As HVAC service engineer I was able to travel the globe and experience the food of many countries.

With a passion for theater I pursued acting and did many performances off Broadway. It’s been a great journey and I’ve been doing film and TV ever since.

The SEASTAINABLE team brought Michael Opal into the production because of his real-world experiences and lack of seafood knowledge.

What did you learn about Sustainable Seafood?

Honestly, I’ve never been a seafood fan, until this project. Growing up in NYC we didn’t eat seafood, it was meat and potatoes. However, now I understand the “Best Practices” of seafood and preparation.

What concerns do you have for the oceans and the planet?

My biggest concern was with pollution and abundance of plastic in the oceans. Working on this project has really been an education for me. Rising waters from polar caps melting, overfishing, warming water temperatures are scary. Ocean acidification and climate change are also major issues.

Working with co-host Laurel Hatfield and seeing the many locations, showed me that there is “Hope for the Oceans”.