Fish City Wins Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Initiative of the Year at All-Ireland Sustainability Awards 2026
Louise McQuillan, Senior Business Development Manager at Visit Belfast with Fish City’s John Lavery and Aaron Norton at the All-Ireland Sustainability Awards 2026
We are delighted to announce that Fish City has been named Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Initiative of the Year at the All-Ireland Sustainability Awards 2026, recognising our work through the Fish City Kids Club to educate young people about sustainable seafood and the importance of protecting our oceans.
Presented as the finale to the Festival of Sustainable Impact, headline sponsored by Cushon, at Belfast’s Europa Hotel on 1st October, this year’s All-Ireland Sustainability Awards, now in its fifth year, attracted a record 178 entries, with more than 90 organisations and initiatives shortlisted from across the island of Ireland. The standard of entries reflected the growing emphasis on practical, meaningful sustainability and the increasingly important role it plays in building resilient businesses and communities.
The Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Initiative of the Year Award celebrates businesses and initiatives that are embedding sustainability into the tourism and hospitality sector through meaningful environmental and social action. For us, this award is particularly special because it recognises a programme that has been at the heart of Fish City for more than a decade.
Inspiring the next generation of ocean champions
Established in 2014, the Fish City Kids Club is a free educational programme for Primary 7 pupils, designed to make seafood sustainability accessible, engaging and relevant to young people.
The experience begins at nearby St George’s Friday Fish Market, where pupils meet local fishers, see fresh fish and shellfish up close, and learn about the species being landed and the people whose livelihoods depend upon the sea. Back at Fish City, the children take part in an interactive sustainability workshop exploring topics including responsible fishing, healthy oceans, marine ecosystems and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) ecolabel. They also learn about the practical steps that individuals can take to make more sustainable choices. And, naturally, the day finishes with a sustainable lunch, with the kids enjoying our award-winning, sustainably sourced fish and chips.
Sustainability education with a lasting impact
The judges were particularly impressed by the accessibility of the initiative and the well-developed resources that support the programme. They highlighted evidence of measurable changes in pupils’ attitudes, as well as the significant reach the Kids Club has achieved over the years.
They also recognised the programme's potential to create a lasting impact beyond the classroom. One particularly inspiring example is of our Jason, whose first experience with Fish City was through the Kids Club as a school pupil. Years later, after taking on his first job and building a career in our kitchen, he progressed on to become our Sous Chef. His journey is a wonderful reminder that education can have an impact that reaches far beyond a lesson or learning activity itself— potentially influencing the choices, interests and careers of the next generation of sustainability and hospitality leaders.
Putting sustainability into practice
The Kids Club is one part of our wider commitment to sustainability at Fish City. As the first restaurant on the island of Ireland to achieve MSC certification, sustainable seafood and environmental stewardship have been central to our ethos from the very beginning. We work to ensure that all our fish and seafood are responsibly sourced and fully traceable, while continually looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact, minimise food waste and improve efficiency in our operations.
Education is an important part of that work. We believe that sustainability is most effective when people understand not only what we are doing, but why it matters, and how they can participate. That is why we continue to invest in the Kids Club, reviewing and updating our educational materials and finding engaging ways to bring the realities of the fishing industry, marine conservation and sustainable seafood to life for young people.
Looking towards a more sustainable future
To have our Kids Club recognised amongst such a strong field is a tremendous honour. We would like to thank Visit Belfast, sponsor of the Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Initiative of the Year category, the All-Ireland Sustainability Awards judging panel, and everyone who has helped us deliver the Fish City Kids Club over the years — particularly the schools, teachers, fishmongers, most especially our friend Master Fishmonger Hal Dawson, and, of course, the pupils who have taken part.
By helping young people understand our oceans today, we hope to inspire the ocean champions, marine scientists, fishers and hospitality professionals of tomorrow — and to play our small part in creating a more sustainable future for our seas.
Fish City’s Aaron Norton and John Lavery with Jac Callan, Senior Sustainability and Impact Manager at Visit Belfast
Fish City’s Aaron Norton and John Lavery with Danielle McCormick, founder of Triterra and All-Ireland Sustainability
About All-Ireland Sustainability: All-Ireland Sustainability’s mission is to drive positive environmental change across the island of Ireland, working with communities, businesses, and policymakers to promote sustainable practices, protect natural resources, and foster a culture of environmental responsibility. Through collaborative initiatives, educational programs, and advocacy, All-Ireland Sustainability aims to create a greener, more resilient future for all. Their efforts focus on reducing carbon footprints, conserving biodiversity, and supporting the transition to a sustainable, circular economy.