Legal Sea Foods, the Boston-based restaurant chain, has produced a series of commercials and print ads that start out as a message of conservancy and humanity...then turn to bloodshed (if crabs had blood, that is).
One ad starts all Greenpeace-like, with a crab preening itself by ocean waves. A voiceover says, "Save the crab. Save it to show that every creature is sacred, no matter how small. Or just save it so we can chop it up into tasty little crab cakes."
Similar commercials feature salmon and trout, all being praised for their wild beauty...and tastiness.
The company obviously knows it's pushing the buttons of animal rights activists and conservationists. They say they focused on three types of sea dwellers that have ample fishing stocks as the stars of the tongue-in-cheek spots.
Legal Sea Foods president and CEO Roger Berkowitz said, "Sure, people
may jump to the conclusion that we're being flip about the topic, but
it's quite the opposite. This is a debate we need to have. We need to
constantly question where fish comes from and how it was caught and,
moreover, demand more from those tasked with protecting the fish
supply."
Speaking of Greenpeace, seems as if they're not amused at all. According to USA Today,
John Hocevar, director of Greenpeace Oceans, said, "Ironically, the
trout sold by Legal Sea Foods is farmed and has never seen a
golden brook or sunlit stream. The choice isn't between putting fish on a
pedestal or eating them,
it's between reforming the way we produce our seafood or irrevocably
degrading
our oceans."
What are your thoughts? Are these commercials funny
or cringe worthy? Should salmon be revered for their beauty or how they
taste after being grilled with a little lemon butter? Watch here:
Here's Mr. Crab, about to get eaten:
Mr. Salmon is next:
And here's Mr. Trout, peacefully swimming in a clear cool river:
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