SeafoodSource is closely following the sustainable seafood movement by compiling a regular round-up of sector updates about sustainability initiatives and certifications.
- A pole-and-line tuna fishery in South Africa has achieved Marine Stewardship Council certification.
The certified fishery is operated by ICV Africa out of Cape Town and Hout Bay. Half of the company’s catch, or average annual total of 2,500 metric tons, has been certified as meeting MSC’s standard.
“Sustainability is integral to our business. Fishing sustainably is not only about ensuring that tuna stocks remain healthy; it is also about protecting the ocean ecosystem and the other species that our vessels interact with. Our clients, and increasingly the end consumers, expect it of us,” ICV Africa CEO Michelle Bellinger said. “We have always believed in MSC certification and the benefits that the recognition could bring to our fishery and the work that we do.”
The fishery is the first from MSC’s “In-Transition” program to achieve certification since the initiative was created in 2020 to assist certain fisheries reach the MSC standard within a five-year period. ITV originally engaged with MSC in 2018 through the four-year Fish for Good project, funded by the Dutch Postcode Lottery, which aimed to guide fisheries in South Africa, Indonesia, and Mexico towards more sustainable fishing practices. It subsequently received money from MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund in 2020 to pay for better data collection including fishery observers, as well as a review of endangered, threatened, and protected species that may interact with the fishery. ICV Africa subsequently implemented training on the safe handling of such species, particularly seabirds.
“This certification demonstrates that pathways do exist for all kinds of fisheries to promote their responsible practices and, where necessary, to improve their practice in order to gain MSC certification,” MSC Africa Program Director Michael Marriott said. “This is good news for the ocean, for livelihoods, and consumers.”
Most of the albacore caught by ICV Africa is sold to processors for canning and sale to supermarkets in the U.S. and Europe. A second client group from the same fishery, represented by the South African Sustainable Tuna Association (SASTUNA), is currently in assessment against the MSC standard.
Now in its fifth year, MSC’s ITM program will transition from a pilot to a permanent version to be called the MSC Improvement Program, by the end of 2024.
“The program will be transparent, time-bound, and independently verified, offering a credible route for fisheries to make progress towards certification against the MSC's fisheries standard,” the organization said in a press release.
- Holland America Line’s McKinley Chalet Resort in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, U.S.A. has achieved Marine Stewardship Council certification.
The 582-room resort caters to tourists visiting Denali National Park. Menus at its two restaurants feature locally sourced seafood including Alaska halibut, sockeye salmon, and other certified seafood items, including mussels and a seafood queso dip.
The Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based cruise ship company recently obtained both MSC and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certifications for 11 of its ships and unveiled new Alaskan seafood-themed dishes as part of its expanded Alaska Up Close program.
“We are proud to extend our promise of fresh, sustainable fish beyond our ships to our guests on Cruisetours visiting Denali,” Holland America Line Food, Beverage, and Rooms Division Michael Stendebach said in a press release. “Our culinary team at McKinley Chalet Resort has done a wonderful job furthering our industry-leading program with this certification and creating inspiring fresh seafood dishes in our restaurants.”
The company, which also has Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification, also announced its chief marketing officer, Kacy Cole, has joined the RFM board of directors. Cole led her company’s efforts to attain RFM certification.
“I’ve seen firsthand the rigor and credibility behind RFM’s program and how important it is for fishing families and for our guests who want to know they are being served fresh, sustainable seafood on board our ships,” Cole said. “I’m excited to join the board to help RFM further its mission for tracing responsible seafood sourcing practices.”
- Secret Smokehouse is the latest seafood industry representative to attain B Corporation certification, following Portland, Maine, U.S.A.-based Bristol Seafood and others.
The Hackney, London, U.K. based fish curer and smoker is the world’s first smokehouse to get the certification, which includes standards for social and environmental impact, accountability, transparency, and stakeholder governance. The standard is designed to encourage action to address societal challenges.
“Being the first smokehouse in the world to become part of the B Corp community is hugely exciting and I am very proud of the team and our constant pursuit to be the best at what we do,” Secret Smokehouse Founder and Owner Max Bergius said in a press release. “It is a great testament to our commitment and hard work into doing business differently. With this move, we hope we can inspire others to put their ESG’s on top of their agenda and help us improve the industry practices as well as educate consumers.”
Founded in 2016, Secret Smokehouse makes smoked salmon, trout, haddock, kippers, fish pies, fish cakes, and patés, and operates a ready-to-eat delicatessen in London. It began offering products from salmon farmed at land-based facilities in 2023, which it called a move to a more sustainable production method.
- Community Catch has opened up its draft social and environmental standard for small-scale fisheries to public consultation.
London, U.K.-based Community Catch is a seafood market recognition scheme currently in the midst of a beta test series involving fisheries in Scotland, South Africa, Mexico, and Indonesia. Its draft evaluation process allows fishery clients to engage with the organization via a digital platform and to undergo independent third-party evaluation audits.
“Our development to date has been informed and directed by a multi-stakeholder Advisory Board, a diverse executive committee and trial evaluations with representative small-scale fisheries around the world,” the group said in a press release. “As the next stage of our development, we would now welcome comments from all interested parties or individuals on the Community Catch initiative, our standard and evaluation process.”
The consultation period ends 29 August. Comments collected will be used to revise the draft standard, which will then undergo a second round of public consultation, with the goal of launching the standard by the end of 2024.
- The Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s “Seafood through a consumer lens” webinar investigating the results of a recent consumer survey it conducted is now available for viewing on YouTube.
The webinar, which aired 16 July and featured ASC Senior Director of Markets and Marketing Willem de Bruijn, investigated consumer choices around sustainable seafood. The survey featured interviews with more than 15,000 consumers across 14 countries in North America, Asia, and Europe.
“The results from this survey reveal some interesting insights into how consumers shop for seafood and what informs their buying choices,” De Bruijn said.
ASC also recently launched a new Impact Dashboard, featuring comparison tools, interactive maps and charts.
“The redesigned dashboard uses the latest data visualization techniques to make it easier for users to view and collect information on ASC’s impact,” ASC Director of Impacts, Monitoring, and Evaluation Jill Swasey said in a press release. “Visualizing data and allowing users to filter to geographies and years of interest and export chart images can help businesses, producers, and retailers make informed business decisions. Using this powerful tool, stakeholders can easily compare ASC certified production volumes, farm sites and labelled products year-on-year and view trends. With just a simple click on the map, users can also explore the number of ASC certified farms in a country, the species being farmed on site, and its growth compared to previous months or years.”
ASC has been on a summer tour of seafood-related events globally, including stops in Norway, Bangladesh, and the United States.
In Norway, ASC hosted a group of international buyers to tour salmon-farming facilities on the islands of Hitra and Frøya.
The four-day tour took representatives from Sainsbury’s, Colruyt, Frais Embal, Highliner, Disney’s, Pescanova, Loblaws, and E-mart to facilities operated by Lerøy, Salmar, and Mowi – including a few of the 342 ASC-certified salmon farms in Norway, representing around 40 percent of all Norwegian salmon production. BioMar, Control Union, and the Norwegian Seafood Council also participated.
“Due to the importance of Norway in global salmon aquaculture, connecting stakeholders across the supply chain is vital to show the positive impact ASC is making on the ground,” ASC said in a release.
In July, ASC attended the first-ever Bangladesh International Aquaculture and Seafood Show to market the ASC Improver Program, which supports farms that are not ready or eligible for ASC certification but which are committed to improving farming practices.
“The AIP is not only helping farmers improve practices and move to ASC certification, it’s much more than that,” ASC Improver Program Head Roy van Daatselaar said in a release. “Through the AIP and in combination with improvements along the supply chain focused at maintaining product quality, we are aiming to unlock future premium markets for the Luna Shrimp Farms products.”
In September 2023, ASC launched its first aquaculture improvement project (AIP) in partnership with LENK Frozen Foods and Luna Shrimp Farms. Currently, 125 farmers across five clusters currently participate in the AIP with Luna Shrimp Farms, producing up to 400 kilograms of shrimp per hectare a year. LENK is currently initiating a second AIP covering approximately another 275 farmers, according to ASC.
“Black tiger shrimp production is a key contributor to the country’s aquaculture sector and together with our partner Lenk, we believe there is a strong opportunity to build a premium brand around the culture and heritage of extensive, natural black tiger production,” van Daatselaar said.
Earlier this summer, ASC worked with Inland Foods, Kathleen’s Catch, and Atlanta Fishmonger to conduct its first joint retail and restaurant promotion in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
Over six weeks from Memorial Day through Independence Day, all Kathleen’s Catch and Fishmonger locations highlighted a selection of ASC-certified products provided by Inland Foods, including AVRAMAR branzino, Verlasso salmon, Riverence Provisions trout, and Open Blue cobia. In-store materials provided information to shoppers about ASC’s eco-label and its farming standards. ASC estimated the campaign reached shoppers and diners in-store more than 5,000 times and said the promotion earned local media coverage and social media amplification.
“Partnering with ASC has been a fantastic way for Inland Foods to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable seafood in the Atlanta area, and to showcase our commitment to practices aimed at preserving the environment that feeds us,” Inland Foods Marketing Director Ali Rosenberger said. “By working together with our customers and organizations like ASC, we’re able to educate our community about the benefits of choosing seafood from transparent, traceable, and well-managed sources.”
ASC said it also plans to attend the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival taking place 13 to 15 September, also in partnership with Inland Foods.
