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Lusamerica, FishWise partner

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By SeafoodSource staff
09 March, 2010 - Lusamerica Foods on Monday announced that it partnered with FishWise to improve the sustainability and financial performance of its seafood supply chain.

The Morgan Hill, Calif.-based distributor says the partnership aims to increase the availability of sustainable seafood through short- and long-term commitments and accountability measures for ensuring action.

“With FishWise as an advisor on initiatives, and a resource to verify information, we gain vital third-party support that ensures our credibility as a responsible seafood business,” said John Silva, Lusamerica’s general manager. “Also, more and more of our customers, like Safeway, demand sustainability information, so these efforts strengthen our accounts. Ultimately, by working together, we help ensure that our business and our oceans are healthy for generations to come.”

Safeway, which operates more than 1,700 stores throughout the western and central United States and western Canada, also partnered with FishWise earlier this year to implement a more comprehensive sustainable seafood purchasing policy.

FishWise, a nonprofit based in Santa Cruz, Calif., and Lusamerica define sustainable seafood as seafood that is harvested or farmed in a way that can maintain or increase production into the long term without jeopardizing the structure or function of affected ecosystems.

FishWise conducted an initial assessment of Lusamerica’s product list, which resulted in both short- and long-term recommendations for improving the sustainability of Lusamerica’s products.

As a result, Lusamerica discontinued the sale of shark and non-MSC-certified Chilean sea bass, and has begun developing an education and outreach program to bring employees and customers up to date on sustainability issues.

FishWise is also assisting Lusamerica with high-volume species of concern by identifying alternative sources and working with existing suppliers on developing and implementing credible improvement plans.

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