WWF has welcomed I&J's commitment to meeting sustainable standards for its seafood operations. (Photo: I&J/FIS)

I&J commits to sustainable seafood sourcing

The World Wildlife Fund-South Africa (WWF-SA) has welcomed leading South African fishing company I&J’s announcement stating its commitment to meeting strict sustainability standards for its seafood operations by the end of 2015.

I&J has signed a participation agreement with the WWF-SA Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (WWF-SASSI), which further enhances the company’s long history of responsible fishing. I&J has provided clear leadership through its commitment to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), its active role in the Responsible Fisheries Alliance (RFA) and its continued support of the responsible fisheries training programme, among other actions taken, WWF-SA said.

I&J will collaborate with WWF-SASSI to ensure that, by December 2015, the fishing company will only sell seafood products that are:

• Certified by the MSC for wild capture species or;
• Certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) for species originating from aquaculture operations or;
• Green-listed by WWF-SASSI or;
• The subject of a time-bound fishery improvement project or bycatch management plan as approved by WWF-SA.

I&J is now the first fishing company in South Africa to make such a strong commitment to sustainable seafood and WWF-SA sees it as an industry leading initiative. As an active participant in the WWF-SASSI Retailer/Supplier Participation Scheme, the company will actively engage with its own fishing operations and suppliers to make this vision a reality.

“These sustainability goals are a clear statement of intent by I&J to drive positive change by formalising the company’s commitment to sustainable fishing practices and meeting hard and fast targets,“ stated Ronald Fasol, CEO of I&J.

WWF-SA CEO Dr Morné du Plessis called the agreement a leading and positive step in achieving seafood sustainability.

“WWF believes that corporate engagement is key to transforming markets and for adopting and promoting sector-wide shifts to sustainable development and corporate best practice. The transformational nature of this partnership is highlighted by the commitments to sustainable seafood that I&J has made,” he added.

I&J, a major stakeholder in the South African fishing industry, is the largest right-holder in the commercially important hake fisheries and trades in both whole fish and value-added seafood products.

By Natalia Real
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

Address:	I&J House, 1 Davidson Street, Woodstock
City:	Cape Town
State/ZIP:	Western Cape (7925)
Country:	South Africa
Phone:	+27 21 440 7800
E-Mail:	talk2us@ij.co.za
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