SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton – May 7, 2015 — The Maine Certified Sustainable Lobster Association (MCSLA) announced that Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods has joined their client group. Chicken of the Sea purchased Orion Seafoods in 2014. Orion is a significant supplier and marketer of both Maine and Canadian lobster.
COSFF, a division of Thai Union Frozen Products Group (TUF), is already a member of the Aquaculture Certification Council, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, National Fisheries Institute Crab Council, and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation.
“Chicken of the Sea is focused on sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives,” said Bryan Rosenberg, President and CEO at Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods.
“Our parent company, Thai Union Group, is a leading sustainability driven company in the global marketplace, and we look forward to further pursuing that commitment in the lobster industry.” According to Mr. Rosenberg, the company’s desire to join an open group dedicated to a sustainable lobster fishery and ecosystem sustainability inspired COSFF to apply for MCSLA membership.
The MCSLA is one of two MSC client groups managing chain of custody for the Maine Lobster Fishery. Two certifications are also done, one by InterTek Moody Marine, and the other by SAI Global. The first certification was completed in 2013. The second one is due to release the draft public assessment report around May 15th.
All lobster from Maine will be eligible for use of the MSC chain of custody, as the effective date for the new client group is November, 2014.
The MCSLA members include Cozy Harbor Seafood, Inc.; Craig’s All Natural, LLC; East Coast Seafood, Inc.; Garbo Lobster Co., Inc.; Inland Seafood, Inc.; Mazzetta Company, LLC; Maine Coast Lobster, Eastern Traders/Barry Group and Cape Bald Packers. Orion Seafoods, now owned by Chicken of the Sea was also a prior member.
The MCSLA also says they facilitate open access and participation among a range of certification programs, not simply MSC. They include:
Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA) Seafood Watch
NOAA – FishWatch
Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI)
Certified One for One Lobster
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Maine State Certified (DMR)
Blue Ocean Institute (BOI)
The other certification group, called Fund for the Advancement of Sustainable Maine Lobster, has four members: Shucks Maine Lobster, Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine, Goat Island Maine Lobster, and Cape Seafood LLC.
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.