Saving Seafood

GSSI Public Consultation on the Benchmark Report for the Marine Eco-Label Japan (MEL) Scheme

July 2, 2019 — The following was released by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative:

On 1 July 2019, GSSI launched a 30-day public consultation on the GSSI Benchmark Report for the Marine Eco-Label Japan (MEL) scheme.

Marine Eco-Label Japan (MEL) Council applied for GSSI recognition of its MEL scheme in September 2018 and has been benchmarked against the GSSI Global Benchmark Tool on Section A (Governance), Section B (Operational Management) Section C (Aquaculture) and D (Fisheries).

The Independent Experts and the Benchmark Committee found the scheme to be in alignment with all the GSSI Essential Components. GSSI now invites comments from all stakeholders on the recommendation of the Benchmark Committee to recognize the Marine Eco-Label Japan (MEL) scheme for their Aquaculture Management Standard (Version 1.0, 2018) and Fisheries Management Standard (Version 2.0, 2018).

Following the public consultation, the Benchmark Committee, Independent Experts and MEL will process the feedback received. GSSI’s Benchmark Committee will then provide the GSSI Steering Board with a final recommendation on recognition. The Public Consultation feedback will be made publicly available after the GSSI Steering Board’s decision.

Read the full release here

China to revise key law on distant-water fishing

July 2, 2019 — China has signaled a redrafting of its key law on overseas fishing.

Its law, “The Administration of Offshore Fisheries, 2003,” is being updated by the Chinese government, which has been circulating drafts to regional officials and fisheries industry representatives.

The new draft is necessary because China has joined five international fishery bodies or agreements since the 2003 law went into effect, according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The new law will allow for higher fines and new limits on switching nationality or switching flags on vessels. But details on how or when the new regulations will be implemented have not yet become publicly available.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

EU, Pacific fish forum engage in first ever policy dialogue

June 24, 2019 — The first ever discussions between the EU and the 17 members of the Forum Fishery Agency (FFA) regarding the management of marine resources took place in Pohnpei, in the Federated States of Micronesia on June 21.

The two-day meeting was arranged under the framework of the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership program (PEUMP), a four-year initiative that aims to reduce levels of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the region, as well as find trade negotiations to remove the need for fishery subsidies.

FFA director general, Manu Tupou-Roosen said: “This policy dialogue is important because it is an opportunity for FFA members and the EU to have an in-depth discussion on key issues relating to the sustainable management of tuna in our region, its importance for Pacific island countries, and our cooperation in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to tackle issues like IUU fishing.”

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

The Marine Stewardship Council and Whole Foods Market Celebrate 20 Years of Sustainable Seafood

June 18, 2019 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is celebrating 20 years of partnership with Whole Foods Market on sustainable seafood. In 1999, Whole Foods Market became the first US retailer to partner with the MSC to make certified sustainable seafood available to customers around the US. MSC’s longest standing retail partner created sustainable seafood as a concept for consumers by sourcing MSC certified seafood and selling products with the MSC blue fish logo.

One example of Whole Foods Market’s leadership on sustainable seafood is the sourcing of Patagonian toothfish, also known as Chilean seabass. Whole Foods Market discontinued the sale of Patagonian toothfish in 1999 due to overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated catch. In response to the problems in the toothfish fishery, the local government of South Georgia and environmental organizations worked to implement improvements in the fishery’s management system and pursued MSC certification to ensure long-term sustainability of the fishery. Ultimately, after obtaining third-party certification of the fishery and the required Chain of Custody under the MSC program, the fishery attained certification in 2004. Two years later, Whole Foods Market became the first retailer to sell MSC certified sustainable toothfish with the MSC blue fish label indicating to consumers that the fish came from a responsible, well-managed fishery. Having seen the benefits that MSC certification brought to South Georgia, including the potential to reach Whole Foods Market customers, other toothfish fisheries soon followed suit. Today, illegal fishing is at its lowest recorded in the fishery. Improved management, smarter practices and MSC certification have made Patagonian toothfish a viable option for consumers who want to enjoy seafood that’s good for them, and good for the oceans.

“Whole Foods Market’s longstanding partnership with the MSC is a testament to their dedication to sustainable seafood supplies and to its significant role in creating a marketplace for sustainable seafood,” said Brian Perkins, MSC’s Regional Director for the Americas. “We’re proud to celebrate 20 years of partnership with Whole Foods Market and are honored to have their leadership and foresight in safeguarding fish populations, and in making sure consumers have access to MSC certified sustainable seafood for this and future generations.”

Recent research by leading research consultancy GlobeScan found that 81% of North American seafood consumers agree that fish and seafood must be protected for future generations. These findings demonstrate the important role retailers play in creating a marketplace for sustainable seafood and help retailers like Whole Food Market to ensure they can meet consumers desires to shop sustainably.

During the month of June, fish counters at Whole Foods Markets around the country will be celebrating the partnership with special messaging about the 20 year anniversary.

Southwind Foods Joins GSSI

June 17, 2019 — The following was released by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative, Southwind Foods, and Great American Seafood Imports Co:

The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative is pleased to announce that Southwind Foods has joined the GSSI Global Partnership as a Funding Partner.

Southwind Foods is a U.S. owned and operated seafood company servicing U.S. grocery, distributor and food service customers fresh and frozen seafood certified by GSSI recognized schemes BAP, ASC and MSC.

“We are excited to partner with GSSI and further our commitment to sustainable, socially responsible, safe and traceable seafood,” said Paul Galletti, Co-Owner and EVP, Sales & Marketing. “Our family owned, and operated company represents 4 generations that has made its living from commercial fishing to wholesale, processing, and distribution. We have witnessed first-hand how global seafood consumption has increased and it is crucial that we do our part to keep fish populations thriving and our seafood industry healthy for years to come.”

ABOUT SOUTHWIND FOODS

Southwind Foods is a U.S. owned and operated company supplying our grocery, distributor and food service customers the finest fresh and frozen responsibly harvested seafood from around the world.

Our corporate office and world-class 160,000 square feet BRC Global Standard, HACCP approved processing, storage, and distribution facility is located in Carson, California. We also operate sales offices in New York, Texas, and Arizona along with processing and distribution facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Las Vegas, Nevada that supports our sales and distribution in all 50 states.

Southwind Foods import division, Great American Seafood Imports Co., was established in 2003 and operates as the company’s overseas procurement division. The brand consists of a diverse line of cooked, raw, and breaded, bulk and packaged shrimp, fillets, steaks, portions, whole fish, crab, shellfish, and aquatics along with value added and innovative products such as meal kits, planks, skewers, poke and more.

Our highly skilled and ethical marketing and procurement associates work closely with our customers and suppliers to supply the highest level of quality, service and value.

To learn more, please visit www.southwindfoods.com.

THE GSSI GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) is a global, Public-Private Partnership, working towards more sustainable seafood for everyone. For more information on our Global Partnership and how to become a partner, please visit our website or contact us: secretariat@ourgssi.org.

New report combines data of five leading sustainability NGOs for first time

June 13, 2019 — A new report released during the 2019 SeaWeb Seafood Summit, (SWSS19) has united data from five of the leading seafood sustainability NGOs, giving a comprehensive look at the sustainability of the world’s oceans.

“Sustainable Seafood: A Global Benchmark” has brought together the data and expertise of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Fair Trade USA, Marine Stewardship Council, Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program, and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. Together, the collective data has formed a report looking at the sustainability of different seafood sectors, and the priorities that should be focused on moving forward.

The report is thanks to the Seafood Certification and Ratings Collaboration, which launched in 2015.

“Through the collaboration, we aim to increase our impact by coordinating our tools and leveraging our extensive data on the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture,” the report said.

The report, and the compiling of the data of the various NGOs, has been a goal of the collaboration and regular updated analysis are planned in the future.

“This first edition is intended as a benchmark, illustrating the current level of performance and identifying the improvements needed going forward,” the report said.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

RAY HILBORN: Keep eating fish; it’s the best way to feed the world

June 3, 2019 — This week, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) is convening Capitol Hill Ocean Week in Washington, D.C. Additionally, President Trump has declared the month of June “National Ocean Month” in recognition of the importance of the ocean to the economy, national security, and environment of the United States.

For the duration of Ocean Week, Saving Seafood will share materials related to the sustainable and economically vital U.S. commercial fishing and seafood industries, including information tied directly to events being organized as part of the NMSF conference.

To kick off the week, Saving Seafood is sharing the following article on the importance of eating fish to global food security and the environment. It was written by renowned fisheries scientist Dr. Ray Hilborn and published by the Oxford University Press Blog last week:

The famous ocean explorer, Sylvia Earle, has long advocated that people stop eating fish. Recently, George Monbiot made a similar plea in The Guardian – there’s only one way to save the life in our oceans, stop eating fish – which, incidentally, would condemn several million people to starvation.

In both cases, it’s facile reasoning. The oceans may suffer from many things, but fishing isn’t the biggest. Earle and Monbiot’s sweeping pronouncements lack any thought for the consequences of rejecting fish and substituting fish protein for what? Steak? That delicious sizzler on your plate carries the most appallingly large environmental costs regarding fresh water, grain production, land use, erosion, loss of topsoil, transportation, you name it.

Luckily for our planet, not everyone eats steak. You’re vegan, you say, and your conscience is clean. An admirable choice – so long as there aren’t too many of you. For the sake of argument and numbers, let us assume that we can substitute plant protein in the form of tofu, made from soybeans, for fish protein. Soybeans need decent land; in fact it would take 2.58 times the land area of England to produce enough tofu to substitute for no longer available fish. That extra amount of decent arable land just isn’t available – unless we can persuade Brazil, Ecuador and Columbia to cut down more of the Amazon rainforest. We would also add 1.71 times the amount of greenhouse gases that it takes to catch the fish.

And, again for the sake of argument, were we to substitute beef for fish, we would need 192.43 Englands to raise all that cattle and greenhouse gases would rocket to 42.4 times what they are from fishing.

But aren’t there alternatives that we can eat with a clean conscience? It depends. First, we must accept the inescapable truth that everyone has to eat. You and I and another few billion humans right down to the single cell organisms. The second inescapable truth arises from the first but is often ignored, is that there is no free lunch. The big variable in this business of eating is deciding the appropriate price to the environment.

Read the full opinion piece at the Oxford University Press (OUP) Blog

5 Innovations In Aquaculture Worth Catching On To Now

May 30, 2019 — Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing forms of food production in the world and the fastest growing sector in the livestock industry. In a $140 billion market, startups in seafood and aquaculture technology raised $193 million in 2016, which marked a 271% increase from the two years prior combined. The latest group of innovations in agtech could very well come from the water, as something we could call “aquatech.”

Yet there are many areas in this industry that are in dire need of innovation. Today, I will focus on my top 5: disease prevention, vaccine delivery, fish meal replacement, sustainability solutions (including closed-loop farming) and supply chain management.

Tremendous opportunity exists right now for those interested in investing in the solutions to these issues. Let’s take a look at the five key areas mentioned, and how several forward-thinking companies are meeting them head on.

Disease prevention is a critical aspect of aquaculture. Changing ocean temperatures and water quality make animals and plants more stressed and susceptible to disease, yet innovation is lacking in prevention compared to land-based agriculture. Terrestrial food animal farmers can easily deploy dozens of vaccines and preventive solutions, while aquaculture has less choice and significant delivery challenges (more on this below). Vaccines are still administered by hand, and there simply aren’t good preventive measures for many infestations.

Read the full story at Forbes

To create sustainable seafood industries, the United States needs a better accounting of imports and exports

May 28, 2019 — Global seafood trade nearly doubled in recent decades, fueled by decreasing transportation costs, advances in preservation and processing technologies, and open trade policies and is now among the most highly traded commodities. The United States is currently the world’s top seafood importer and among the top five exporters. It is often quoted that 90% of seafood consumed in the United States is imported, implying only 10% is of domestic origin. Over the past decade, this statistic has been widely shared and highlighted with more than 60 news articles quoting it annually since 2014, and it is increasingly used to support proposed policy changes. In recent years, the former US Secretary of State, current US Secretary of Commerce, and members of Congress have all cited the number to call for new policy measures addressing seafood sustainability and dependence on foreign seafood.

However, we argue that far more than 10%, likely 35–38%, of seafood consumed in the United States is of domestic origin. Precise estimates are difficult because of complex supply chains: for instance, some seafood caught in the United States is exported for processing and imported again under a different trade code for consumption in the United States. Such globalized supply chains are commonplace with many products relying on numerous foreign inputs and crossing international borders multiple times. For example, beef production between the United States and Mexico can involve multiple exchanges of calves, adults, and final products. These counterintuitive patterns are created by low tariffs and transportation costs that allow producers to optimize for favorable interest rates and low production costs across supply chains, keeping prices low for US consumers of beef, seafood, and countless other products.

Unfortunately, a dark cloud looms over seafood trade as tariffs recently imposed by the United States and retaliatory tariffs imposed by China and other countries hit US seafood exporters and importers, resulting in higher seafood prices for US consumers. Accounting for the realities of globalized supply chains is not only needed for better statistics that support evidence-based policy but is also key to supporting the US seafood industry, achieving sustainable production, and meeting consumer demand.

Read the full story from the National Academy of Sciences at Medium

Two groups studying how to make fisheries more climate-resilient

May 28, 2019 — With a growing consensus that climate change is causing drastic transformations of marine ecosystems and fish stock dynamics, two recent studies have addressed the importance of taking a more adaptive and responsive approach to their management.

The first study, published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science, shows that adjusting fishing levels when fish populations change is key to making global fisheries more climate-resilient. The result of making this shift would be healthier oceans and a more stable supply of fish for consumption, according to scientists at the Environmental Defense Fund and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Their paper outlines the fact that many commercially important fish stocks are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and that managing those stocks sustainably in the future will be a large and growing challenge for fisheries scientists and managers. The paper recommends responsive harvest control rules (HCRs) that automatically reduce catch percentages when decreases in biomass are detected, and increases when biomass increases. By adopting HCRs, “inherent resilience” could be introduced into the system, reducing the adverse effects of climate change while longer-term solutions are sought to better address the negative impacts of global warming.

“Using the right harvest-control rule is like having adaptive cruise control for your fishery,” said Jake Kritzer, a senior director of Environmental Defense Fund’s Oceans program and lead author of the paper. “When you need to slow down, the system can automatically adjust to the right level. Then, when the road ahead is clear, it allows you to return to a higher level.”

Warmer waters caused by climate change are resulting in lower reproduction rates in fish and forcing them to migrate out of their natural ranges. The current system for managing fish catches is often not adaptive enough to respond to these dynamics, the report noted. In addition, current catch levels are being calculated on biomass that may be incorrect as a result of these large-scale changes, the report found.

Read the full story at Seafood Source