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The graphic shows how the same fish species (Sebastes flavidus) is required to be labelled in the EU, the US and Canada. (Image: SeaChoice)
SeaChoice changes focus to promote more sustainable seafood products
(CANADA, 7/19/2017)
SeaChoice has decided to change the focus in the retailer sector and concentrate on changing seafood product unsustainable production. In this way, it intends to become a leading control independent entity ensuring the fishing sustainability in Canada.
Since its creation more than a decade ago, SeaChoice has committed to providing information onb seafood sustainability at different levels of the seafood supply chain, from its capture to consumers.
Now it has decided to improve seafood-labelling regulations, eco-certification standards, fisheries and aquaculture management, and making information more transparent throughout the supply chain.
“We’re proud that our retail partners have made great strides in their commitment to sustainable seafood,” Kurtis Hayne of SeaChoice said.
Hayne expressed he is convinced that this transition will benefit seafood retailers as well and stated this new program is calling for new Canadian regulations to improve seafood labelling to better align with international best practices and major export markets.
SeaChoice’s executive also explained that the organization will provide tools and resources to all retailers on how to better embed and improve sustainable seafood policies and procurement practices within their companies and transparently report their progress.
“We’ve seen more awareness of sustainable seafood in Canada over the last decade, but we realized that continuing along the path of encouraging point-of-sale promotion only is not going to achieve the improvements to fishing and aquaculture practices still badly needed,” pointed out Bill Wareham of the David Suzuki Foundation, a partner of SeaChoice’s.
SeaChoice informed that it will continue to engage the Canadian public through programs like citizen scientist seafood DNA testing, updates on fisheries and aquaculture improvements that help reduce the volume of unsustainable seafood in the marketplace, and communicating annual retailer seafood procurement audit results.
SeaChoice was founded in 2006 and is currently a partnership of the David Suzuki Foundation, the Ecology Action Centre and the Living Oceans Society. The organisation continues to work as a member organization of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions and work with consumers, retailers, suppliers, government and producers to accomplish its objectives.
(CANADA, 7/19/2017)
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