June 18, 2021 — A paper published in Nature Communications, “Financing a sustainable ocean economy,” was among a long list of articles, announcements, and pledges that appeared on 8 June, commemorating World Oceans Day.
The paper’s authors, a group of international economists and ocean policy experts, found that public and private investment lags far behind that needed to ensure a thriving, resilient, and sustainable ocean economy.
June 17, 2021 — A comment by a star of state-run media has triggered a national debate on the impact of growing Chinese consumption of seafood.
Chinese-American blogger and filmmaker Gu Yue, who also goes by Kyle Johnson, has been taken to task by Chinese users on Sina Weibo for comments he made calling for more responsible consumption of seafood in China.
June 15, 2021 — A growing number of class-action lawsuits are being filed against seafood retailers and foodservice outlets, claiming their offerings do not meet their own sustainability claims.
Earlier this month, in a complaint filed in the U.S. Superior Court in the District of Columbia, ALDI was accused of false advertising and marketing, with the advocacy group GMO/Toxin Free USA alleging ALDI’s claim that its salmon is sustainably sourced is not credible. Earlier this year, Mowi agreed to settle a similar lawsuit for USD 1.3 million (EUR 1.1 million). The complaint alleged that the sustainability claims on its Ducktrap River of Maine smoked salmon were false.
June 11, 2021 — In seafood circles, the Maldives is heralded as one of the world’s most-important tuna-fishing nations, an acknowledgement proudly welcomed by Maldivians. But what isn’t so apparent to most non-natives is just how vital tuna is to the island nation. Its 2,000-year history is literally built on catching these universally-prized fish. Moreover, it’s been doing this in pretty much the same way down through the centuries – one-by-one. Essentially, one fisher, using one fishing line, catching one fish at a time.
Its fisheries laws prohibit purse-seining, gillnets, trawl nets, or any other form of commercial fishing that uses a net. At the same time, the country’s exclusive economic zone isn’t leased to other nations and it has a strict policy of not licensing foreign fishing vessels.
June 11, 2021 — The following was released by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative:
The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative is pleased to announce that Auchan has joined GSSI as a Funding Partner.
Auchan is a next generation retailer that has been serving the public for 60 years. As a changing retailer in a changing world, Auchan’s current ambition is to meet today’s purchase- and health-conscious omni-channel consumers with the goal and desire to bring change to their lives.
“We work every day at our level for responsible fishing and aquaculture. We are constantly updating our sustainable fisheries policy, in response to consumers’ concerns about the quality of products and to ensure sound management of the resource, in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for aquatic life. It is through the GSSI programme that we wish to further strengthen our involvement in the conservation and wise management of resources.” said Matthieu Trenchand, quality manager of Auchan.
June 9, 2021 — The Walton Family Foundation has pledged USD 6.7 million (EUR 5.5 million) to support the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, renewing its foundational grant to the seafood sustainability-focused nonprofit.
The Walton Family Foundation support of SFP is aimed at advancing sustainability initiatives covering octopus, tuna, shrimp, squid, mahi, whitefish, reduction fisheries, blue swimming crab, and snapper and grouper. SFP is in the midst of its Target 75 campaign, which seeks to move 75 percent of the global production of crucial seafood sectors into fisheries certified as sustainable (Marine Stewardship Council-certified or equivalent) or classified as improving under a credible fishery improvement project.
June 9, 2021 — Financing a sustainable global ocean economy may require a Paris Agreement-type effort, according to a new report from an international team of researchers led by the University of British Columbia.
That’s because a significant increase in sustainable ocean finance will be required to ensure a sustainable ocean economy that benefits society and businesses in both developing and developed countries.
The report, published today—on World Ocean Day—identifies major barriers to financing such a sustainable ocean economy. This includes all ocean-based industries, like seafood production, shipping and renewable energy, and ecosystem goods and services, such as climate regulation and coastal protection.
“The size of the ocean economy was estimated at around $1.5 trillion in 2010, and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was projected to increase to $3 trillion in 2030,” said lead author Dr. Rashid Sumaila, a professor at UBC’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and Canada Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Ocean and Fisheries Economics.
May 25, 2021 — The following was released by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative:
The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative is pleased to announce Global Tuna Alliance has joined GSSI as an Affiliated Partner.
The Global Tuna Alliance is an independent group of retailers and tuna supply chain companies, who are committed to realising harvest strategies for tuna fisheries, avoidance of IUU products, improved traceability as well as environmental sustainability, and progressing work on human rights in tuna fisheries and to implementing the objectives laid out in the World Economic Forum’s Tuna 2020 Traceability Declaration.
“The Global Tuna Alliance is excited to become an affiliated partner of GSSI. We are already aligned through our 5-year strategy; GTA Partners are publicly committing to sourcing 100% of tuna products from fisheries with a GSSI-recognized certification, or on a pathway to sustainability. Both organisations have a shared ambition of seeing comprehensive harvest strategies adopted, and we look forward to GSSI Partners supporting our advocacy around this goal for tuna fisheries,” said Dr Tom Pickerell, Executive Director of the Global Tuna Alliance.
May 21, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, NOAA Fisheries announced the release of two new reports: the Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries and the 2019 Fisheries of the United States Report. These reports highlight the continued rebuilding and recovery of U.S. fisheries and the broad economic impact of commercial and recreational fisheries on the U.S. economy.
Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries
Sustainable U.S. fisheries play an important role in the nation’s economy. They provide opportunities for commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing, and sustainable seafood for consumers. This annual report provides a “snapshot” in time of the status of U.S. fisheries at the end of 2020.
NOAA Fisheries’ 2020 Status of Stocks shows continued progress in science and management for U.S. fisheries. Key takeaways include:
By ending overfishing and rebuilding stocks, we are strengthening the value of U.S. fisheries to the economy, our communities, and marine ecosystems.
Fisheries of the United States 2019
Fisheries of the United States is a yearbook of fisheries statistics for the nation. It provides data on commercial landings and value and recreational catch. It also includes data on the fish processing industry, aquaculture production, imports and exports, and per capita seafood consumption. Although dollar values are included, this report does not focus on economic analysis. According to the report, U.S. commercial fishermen landed 9.3 billion pounds of seafood valued at $5.5 billion in 2019.
The continued, steady high landings and values of U.S. fisheries we’ve seen over the last five years points to the collective progress that our agency, the eight regional fishery management councils, and our stakeholders are making as we work to ensure the sustainability and economic stability of our nation’s fisheries.
Key takeaways include:
May 20, 2021 — The Global Salmon Initiative has published its annual sustainability report and launched a resource hub designed to offer data and materials to document the impact the organization is having upon the industry.
GSI was created in 2013 as a collaborative effort by many of the world’s largest farmed salmon producers to push for collective efforts on sustainability initiatives. The group, which now includes 13 companies comprising 40 percent of the world’s total salmon production, has established goals including minimizing its environmental footprint and continuing to improve its social contributions.