The Peabody Hotel in Orlando, FL, known for its daily "March of the Mallards," has removed North Atlantic swordfish from its restaurant and banquet menus.

Those who've stayed at the Peabody (or who show up at just the right time) know that once a day a squad of ducks waddles across the hotel's lobby carpet to swim in its lobby fountain. This had been going on for decades at the original Peabody in Memphis, TN, where the ducks arrived by elevator from the roof. When the Peabody opened its Orlando property, new ducks were recruited to franchise the tradition.

Tim Gonser, VP of food and beverage for the Peabody Hotel Group, explained that, "because of the special role North American mallards play in our day-to-day hotel operations, we are extremely conscious of, and devoted to, conservation and preservation of nature and wildlife." The removal of North Atlantic swordfish — which have been hunted to the point where the species can no longer reproduce itself — from Peabody dinner plates is evidently part of that devotion to conservation and preservation.

The Peabody Hotel Group stresses that it's not "boycotting" North Atlantic swordfish, but establishing a "time out" period, so that the dwindling swordfish population can be replenished. At that point, apparently, its devotion to North Atlantic swordfish will come to an end.

November 10, 2009

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