Saving Seafood

SFP Launches New Projects to Address Carbon and Biodiversity Impacts of Aquaculture

September 19, 2023 — The following was released by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership:
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) today announced a new landscape-based aquaculture initiative to create the scale necessary for seafood buyers, processors and farmers to address the cumulative impacts of aquaculture, beyond the farm and the critical environmental and socio-economic challenges they face.
“Retailers and major buyers of seafood are looking for actionable solutions to have a positive impact,” said Braddock Spear, global policy director at SFP. “The time is now to link improved aquaculture production and sourcing to broader goals and positive impact on climate change, biodiversity and strengthening communities.”
Made possible by funding from the Walmart Foundation, SFP will initiate two new projects within its aquaculture programs. These include: 1) organizing market demand in support of more sustainable aquaculture feed and 2) building the foundation and roadmap for landscape-scale aquaculture improvement of farmed shrimp in Andhra Pradesh, India, in conjunction with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
Increasingly, retailers are setting ambitious targets around climate change and biodiversity.  Feed is typically the single biggest contributor to the carbon footprint of shrimp and salmon aquaculture. And many feed ingredients (e.g., fishmeal/oil, soy and grain) have direct biodiversity impacts, including overfishing and deforestation. This is driving increased attention and questions about aquaculture, particularly how improving feed inputs can help achieve these commitments.
“We have an exciting and unique opportunity to work with seafood buyers and supply chains to develop collaborative efforts around feed,” added Dave Martin, program director at SFP. “This project will allow us to engage industry to better understand, measure and reduce the environmental footprint of aquaculture feeds.”
SFP will focus industry improvements and collective action to address aquaculture feed sourcing risks. Key products include an industry action toolkit to facilitate positive and aligned supply chain engagement on aquaculture feed sustainability. SFP will work with other leading NGOs and related initiatives to ensure consistency in advice and recommendations.
Currently, only about 24 percent of farmed shrimp from India is certified. As demand from international markets for certified product grows, there will be an urgent need to address sustainability issues at the landscape level, beyond what can be delivered through farm-level certification. At the same time, certification is often out of reach for most smallholder farmers.  This project will seek to build strategies to engage smallholder farmers in improvements and certification. Working at a wider scale will enhance environmental benefits and can lead to production and management efficiencies.
“ASC brings world class standards and a proven ability to work with local stakeholders. Our partnership with ASC allows us to provide comprehensive sustainability solutions to Indian shrimp production,” continued Spear. “With the motivated seafood buyers in SFP’s partnerships and our Asian Farmed Shrimp Supply Chain Roundtable, we will seek to harness market leverage and buying power to support on-the-ground improvements.”
SFP will work with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and shrimp supply chains to foster landscape-level improvements in Indian aquaculture. The goal is to identify farms, processors and other stakeholders within Andhra Pradesh to make verifiable improvement progress at a jurisdictional level. Using available tools and verification mechanisms, SFP and ASC will build stronger connections between production in this area and shrimp buyers and retailers.
“We at ASC have shared goals with SFP of driving more responsible seafood production, and this project provides us with a great opportunity to advance our objectives and untangle some of the barriers often experienced in aquaculture improvement projects,” said Jill Swasey, head of monitoring and evaluation at ASC. “Our work together will allow us to demonstrate our collective positive impact as we connect on-farm improvements to verified progress at landscape levels.”
In April 2023, SFP and ASC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance responsible aquaculture production. The MoU creates the path for the two organizations to innovate and scale their efforts in the aquaculture improvement space.
“The Improver Programme by ASC offers a structured and transparent roadmap for shrimp farmers to implement the requirements of the ASC Standards,” said Roy van Daatselaar, ASC Improver Programme global lead. “On top of that, we work with partners to develop scalable solutions that address impacts beyond farm level. We are thrilled to be working with SFP on designing landscape-level improvement pathways that the market can endorse to enable the sustainable transformation of the sector for shrimp farmers in Andhra Pradesh.”

Op-ed: Seafood business action on human rights is essential

September 6, 2023 — Chris Ninnes is CEO of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Brad Spear is global policy director at Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. ASC and SFP are members of the Certification and Ratings Collaboration.

Around the world, seafood production supports more than 600 million livelihoods and feeds more than 3 billion people. Yet significant social responsibility challenges exist in the supply chains of wild-caught and farmed seafood products from around the world.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Joins New Nature Crimes Alliance

August 24, 2023 — Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) yesterday joined World Resources Institute (WRI), the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, U.S. State Department, and others in announcing the new Nature Crime Alliance and the Vancouver Statement on Nature Crime at an event at the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The Alliance brings together critical stakeholders to combat a broad range of nature crimes. SFP is a founding member of the Alliance and will participate in its work to combat illegal fishing.

“Effectively fighting illegal fishing requires coordination and collaboration of key stakeholders,” said Braddock Spear, global policy director at SFP. “To stop illegal fishing, we need solid and just laws with broad support, and good and fair enforcement. The Alliance will bring together necessary stakeholders and resources at a global scale never done before, and create a platform to implement our shared vision of stopping illegal fishing.”

SFP is the first organization to join the Alliance to focus specifically on improving fisheries management and enforcement at national and international levels to stop illegal fishing. The initial aim is to bring together government officials, seafood buyers, and companies to develop and enhance electronic monitoring systems and verification through better data sharing, transparency, and best practices.

“We joined the Alliance at its inception to scale-up and speed up initiatives to fight illegal fishing and improve fisheries management systems globally,” said Spear. “SFP is poised to bring the seafood industry along on its journey to coordinated action against illegal fishing to a global level.”

SFP, in conjunction with WRI, will engage and mobilize their extensive networks to recruit additional partners, forge new collaborations, and raise funding for new and expanded projects. The Alliance will also heighten knowledge and awareness of the problems and costs of illegal fishing.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), fishing nations, especially developing countries, lose billions of dollars due to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing each year. IUU fishing is a major driver of the destruction of marine ecosystems and accounts for one-fifth of the global fish catch, making it the most lucrative natural resource crime after illegal timber and mining.

Thai Union and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership record successes in first year of partnership

August 22, 2023 — The following was released by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership:

Thai Union Group PCL and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) released a report on the achievements of their first year of collaboration, solidifying their commitment to transforming the seafood industry for the better, backed by Thai Union’s recently launched SeaChange® 2030 sustainability plan.

As one of the world’s leading seafood companies, Thai Union recognizes its profound responsibility for sustainable and ethical seafood sourcing. Thai Union is committing the equivalent of its entire 2022 net profit of THB 7.2 billion (USD 200 million) to SeaChange® through 2030 to help reshape the seafood industry with solutions across people and planet that better sustain a future for all.

“The time for aggressive action is now. Through SeaChange®, we aim to drive meaningful improvements across the entire global seafood industry. Commitments this ambitious require the power and collaboration of partners like SFP that can help make long overdue structural changes a reality. Together, we’re asking the wider industry and our peers to join this effort,” said Adam Brennan, Chief Sustainability Officer of Thai Union.

“Thai Union is setting a new level and expectations for seafood sustainability with its ambitious and concrete commitments to protect ocean wildlife. If everyone followed suit, the seafood industry could play a huge role in addressing this biodiversity crisis and help restore marine wildlife,” said Kathryn Novak, Biodiversity and Nature Director, SFP.

The partnership with SFP, an organization with nearly two decades of experience catalyzing positive change across seafood supply chains globally, has been instrumental in Thai Union’s recent sustainability journey. The collaborative effort has achieved significant advancements across five pivotal areas:

1.    Protecting Marine Biodiversity: Through a partnership with SFP, Thai Union audited its supply chain to address bycatch risks, resulting in a commitment to sourcing exclusively from vessels implementing ocean wildlife protection practices. Thai Union’s pioneering endorsement of the Protecting Ocean Wildlife Pledge and focus on responsible sourcing are reflected in SeaChange® 2030.

2.    Understanding its supply chain – and sharing it with the world: Utilizing SFP’s Seafood Metrics system, Thai Union gained insights into its global supply chains, promoting transparency in its approach. The company’s disclosure of wild-caught and farmed seafood sources via SFP’s Ocean Disclosure Project underscores its commitment to accountability.

3.    Reducing confusion in seafood supply chains: As early adopters of SFP’s universal fishery identification system, Thai Union improved traceability within its blue swimming crab supply chain. The standardized codes for global fisheries are helping Thai Union to improve traceability.

4.    Addressing climate change through responsible aquaculture: Aligned with SeaChange® 2030, Thai Union championed landscape-level aquaculture management to minimize ecosystem impact. The company’s leadership in chairing SFP’s Asian Farmed Shrimp Supply Chain Roundtable contributes to climate resilience and the restoration of mangrove ecosystems.

5.    Setting a good example and rallying the seafood industry for change: Thai Union’s commitment involves dedicating its entire 2022 net profit of USD 200m to SeaChange® through 2030, serving as an industry-wide call to action. The company’s collaboration with SFP and participation in multi-stakeholder groups displays its dedication to driving collective improvement, using best practices to protect ocean ecosystems.

Reflecting on this significant partnership milestone, Thai Union and SFP are committed to building upon their first year. Their shared vision and complementary expertise promise to continue fostering progress, driving transformative change within the seafood industry.

For a comprehensive overview of their partnership achievements, refer to the full report.

Explore Thai Union’s extensive sustainability efforts in the 2022 sustainability report.

New Study: Organizing Artisanal Fishers and Processors from Coastal States Improves Fishery Management on the High Seas

August 14, 2023 — The following was released by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership:

A new study by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), published in Ocean and Coastal Management, finds that the organizing of artisanal fishers and processors from coastal states can enable their participation in Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), and by doing so leads RFMOs to more sustainable, science-based, and equitable fisheries management.

“Fisheries policy and management impact the livelihoods of entire coastal communities,” said Enrique Alonso, global fisheries director at SFP and a principal researcher in the study. “Yet artisanal and small-scale fishers are rarely engaged in decision making. This is especially the case in managing the high seas. As a result, fisheries are typically managed without the interests of artisanal and small-scale producers, even when they are the largest stakeholders.”

The research analyzed the formation of CALAMASUR (Committee for the Sustainable Management of the Jumbo Flying Squid in the South Pacific) and its engagement over the past five years in the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO). The study found that participatory governance schemes, as demonstrated by the efforts implemented by CALAMASUR with the SPRFMO, can result in better informed and more equitable outcomes for artisanal and small-scale fisheries.

CALAMASUR, an alliance formed in 2018, comprises prominent artisanal fishing cooperatives and squid processors from Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Mexico. It emerged following a workshop facilitated by SFP, in which participants learned about the SPRFMO and its crucial role in ensuring the sustainability of the jumbo flying squid fishery on the high seas and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

This fishery, recognized as the largest invertebrate fishery globally, operates within the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, expanding into international waters along the South Pacific Ocean, where the SPRFMO manages it.

“When the artisanal squid fishers and processors learned about the RFMO process and how to engage, they knew they needed to have a voice and organize if they wanted a fair playing field,” continued Alonso. “This is the first time artisanal fishers and processors have strategically mobilized and engaged at a scale to achieve policy results in a squid RFMO. We hope this can be an example for other communities around the world.”

The study found that CALAMASUR was a critical agent in driving attention to the squid fishery and advancing key improvement areas and priorities for management. Prior to CALAMASUR’s participation, there had been little work by the SPRFMO on squid.

The paper concluded that, during the period analyzed (2018 to 2022), CALAMASUR had the greatest impact in driving delegates’ attention to issues related to compliance and science for management, and was instrumental in advancing the discussion about critical issues such as effort limitations and increasing on-board observers.

One of CALAMASUR’s keys for success was adopting a proactive approach in SPRFMO Science and Commission meetings, not only presenting position statements, but also proactively developing technical and scientific proposals as an official observer.

“CALAMASUR shows that adequate organization and leadership, coupled with effective engagement by artisanal fishers and processors, can contribute positively to improve fishery management,” continued Alonso. “RFMOs need to enable participation by artisanal and small-scale fisheries if they want to achieve their mandates and produce good policy and management.”

The paper finds that CALAMASUR was instrumental in triggering proposals by progressive national delegations, such as the European Union and Ecuador, and in garnering support for fisheries improvements by other delegations such as Peru and China, whose engagement has been slower.

As a result, the first-ever regional conservation and management measure (CMM) for jumbo flying squid was approved in 2020. More recently, in 2023, a second CMM was enacted that sets limits to fishing effort and improves controls over transshipments in the squid distant-water fleets. This is a historic milestone in the management of squid on the high seas.

The unregulated nature of most squid fisheries in international waters poses substantial risks for artisanal fishers, due to the transboundary nature of the stock and the large-scale environmental fluctuations, as is the case in the South Pacific. Coastal artisanal fishers struggle to compete with distant-water fleets that often operate with state subsidies. Additionally, artisanal fishers, such as those in Peru who are the largest producers of jumbo flying squid, face institutional marginalization, further widening the inequity gap between small-scale and artisanal fishers and industrial producers operating on the high seas.

According to Alonso, “local fishing communities are heavily impacted by the actions or inaction of international management bodies. The high reliance on the jumbo flying squid resource within EEZs exposes these communities to significant risks.”

This work was made possible through the support of The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and Oceans 5, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Companies, Politicians Celebrate World Oceans Day

June 13, 2o23 — World Oceans Day was Thursday, June 8, and this year companies and politicians alike shared how they were celebrating.

SeaPak and Morey’s announced that they have joined Ocean Conservancy’s Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), which was designs to help eliminate abandoned and discarded fishing equipment, also known as “ghost gear.”

“We are always looking for ways to safeguard and improve our oceans, and the Global Ghost Gear Initiative is doing incredible work to keep waterways cleans,” commented Ciera Womack, the Director of Marketing, Seafood for the Consumer Brands Division of Rich’s, the parent company of SeaPak and Morey’s. “While we are announcing this collaboration on World Oceans Day, and during National Ocean Month, our commitment to environmental stewardship is top of mind every day of the year.”

Publix is also taking action, announcing on World Oceans Day that over the last year they‘ve donated over $165,000 to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) to help support fishery and aquaculture improvement projects and advance seafood sustainability.

Publix has been collaborating with SFP for 13 years now. This year’s donation brings the company’s total contributions to SFP to more than $600,000.

Read the full article at Seafoodnews.com

SFP’s 2022 reduction fisheries report warns of stagnation in sustainability improvements

May 19, 2023 — The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership’s 2022 reduction fisheries assessment has raised concerns over the continued stagnation of movement on sustainability in the sector since 2018.

Published on 19 April, the report is the 13th edition of SFP’s assessment of the world’s reduction fisheries, which are fisheries that focus on stocks used mainly for fishmeal and fish oil. SFP released the 2022 report in two parts to better align with the release of key stock assessments and management measurements for the 19 fisheries studied.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Tuna longline fishing needs to do more to protect endangered species

March 26, 2023 — A recent report by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership on the impacts of commercial tuna longline fishing has led the world’s largest tuna company to call for restoration of endangered species.

One of the world’s leading seafood producers and one of the largest producers of shelf-stable tuna products, bringing seafood products to customers across the world for 45 years, the Thai Union Group PLC, recently announced its commitment to only source from vessels that are implementing best practices to protect ocean wildlife from bycatch.

The decision is based on research by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) on the risks to sharks, seabirds, turtles and other marine wildlife in the fisheries that supply the company and an analysis by Key Traceability of Thai Union’s tuna fishery improvement projects and in the highest risk fisheries that were identified in the audit.

“Environmental organizations are pointing to the biodiversity and species loss crisis that the planet is facing. The report by SFP notes the significant loss of ETP species in the Western Central Pacific Ocean region,” noted Adam Brennan, group director, sustainability at Thai Union. “We want to do more to ensure that we are sourcing from vessels that are doing everything they can to avoid and reduce bycatch.”

Known for top-selling, household-name tuna brands, including Chicken of the Sea and John West Thai Union highlighted a new 2030 commitment for its fisheries, building on its larger seafood sustainability efforts over the past seven years. Specifically, Thai Union will:

By 2030, all vessels to implement best practices to protect endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species; and

Fulfill its existing commitment (by 2025) of 100 percent observer coverage (human or electronic) on tuna vessels through direct work with its suppliers and service providers.

Read the full article at National Fisherman

SFP working with FAO to create universal fish IDs to standardize data collection

March 19, 2023 — The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) launched multiple new pilot projects with High Liner Foods, Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods, and Publix Super Markets to design and test the use of universal fishery IDs.

The project, announced in an event at the 2023 Seafood Expo North America, will be partially funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The SFP is working with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to create the unique IDs, which SFP said have the potential to “transform the seafood industry.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

IFFO, SFP convene roundtable to improve sustainability of global fishmeal, fish oil sector

June 29, 2022 — Amidst the backdrop of continuing growth in global demand for fishmeal and fish oil products, IFFO, the international trade body that represents the marine ingredients industry, and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership are advancing the sustainability of the sector through a pre-competitive platform that has engagement from across the sustainable seafood movement.

At the 2022 North Atlantic Seafood Forum in Bergen, Norway, on 22 June, stakeholders from the various groups involved with the Global Roundtable on Marine Ingredients – which include Olvea, BioMar, Cargill, Skretting, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Marin Trust, the Global Seafood Alliance, Nestlé, the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers, and the recently added Marine Stewardship Council – gave an update on the progress the roundtable has made since it was formed in October 2021.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource