High Liner Foods joins Ocean Disclosure Project

Published 11/02/2020

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is pleased to announce that High Liner Foods is now participating in the Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP) and is the first North American company to disclose farmed seafood sourcing information in the ODP's 2019 annual reporting.

"SFP is excited to see High Liner Foods, one of our longest-standing partners, further seafood transparency and continue to demonstrate responsible sourcing through participation in the Ocean Disclosure Project," said Sam Grimley, deputy director of the Programs Division at SFP.

SFP started the ODP in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. To date, 23 other companies in Europe, North America, and Australia have participated.

"Partnering with SFP since 2010, High Liner Foods is pleased to participate in the ODP as part of our continued commitment to sustainability, responsibility, and transparency," said Bill Dimento, vice president for corporate sustainability and government affairs at High Liner Foods. "We are proud to be the first North American company to disclose farmed seafood sourcing information in the ODP's annual report and of the role High Liner Foods continues to play in driving global improvements in wild fisheries and aquaculture, ultimately leading to sustainable seafood for all to enjoy."

High Liner Foods' long-standing commitment to sustainable seafood sourcing has included participated and coordination of several key sustainability projects over the years, including a whitefish fishery improvement project (FIP) in the Barents Sea that resulted in dramatic improvements in stock levels.

High Liner Foods' full profile can be viewed at: https://www.oceandisclosureproject.org/companies/high-liner

JCS Fish joins Ocean Disclosure Project

Published 02/12/2019

The Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP) is pleased to announce that UK salmon specialist, JCS Fish, has become our newest participant.

Family-owned company JSC Fish is the first seafood supplier to voluntarily disclose its farmed seafood sourcing through the ODP by sharing information about the origins of its farmed salmon and trout products. The Grimbsy-based company has published an ODP profile containing a list of its farmed seafood sources alongside information on the country of origin, certification, and environmental impact of farmed production.

Jack Coulbeck, commercial manager for JCS Fish, said, "We are delighted to share our sourcing data through the ODP. People are increasingly interested in the provenance of their food and we believe transparency is vital to ensure our customers rely on us for responsibly-sourced fish. We have already committed to use only GlobalG.A.P. (GGN) certified salmon in our BigFish brand and across the business 91% of our salmon is from certified farms. We expect to reach 100% certified within the next six months."

Tania Woodcock, Project Manager for the ODP, said, "We are pleased to welcome JCS Fish to the Ocean Disclosure Project as the first seafood supplier to disclose its farmed sources. The company's commitment to responsibly farmed seafood is clear from its profile, which highlights the high proportion of farmed seafood sourced from farms certified to a recognized standard."

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership started the ODP in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. To date, 22 other companies including retailers, suppliers, and aquaculture feed manufacturers from Europe, North America and Australia have participated. Other ODP participants include seafood suppliers Albion Farms & Fisheries, Joseph Robertson, North Atlantic Inc, and Tradex Foods.

JCS Fish's full profile can be viewed at: https://www.oceandisclosureproject.org/companies/jcs-fish-bigfish

ALDI Australia becomes first Australian supermarket to join Ocean Disclosure Project

Published 21/10/2019

Australian supermarket ALDI is proud to become the first Australian retailer to participate in the Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP), having today published its seafood sourcing disclosure profile.

The retailer has shared a public profile on the ODP website, which lists all own-brand, wild caught seafood sourced by the business in 2018 along with information relating to fishery management, catch method, and environmental impact. The publication marks the first time that an Australian retailer has publicly disclosed information on seafood sourcing through the ODP.

Daniel Baker, Corporate Responsibility Director, ALDI Australia said: "We are committed to responsibly sourcing all of our own-brand fish and seafood by the end of 2020. The Ocean Disclosure Project offers an exciting opportunity for us to publicly demonstrate this commitment and increase transparency of our seafood sourcing."

The publication of ALDI Australia's profile follows the release of an ODP profile by ALDI US and ALDI UK & Ireland in 2019. The ODP was started by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. To date, 21 companies, including retailers, suppliers, and aquaculture feed manufacturers from Europe and North America, have participated. Other ODP participants include UK retailers Asda, Co-op Food, Lidl UK, Morrisons, and Tesco, and North American retailers Publix Supermarkets, Walmart US, Giant Eagle, Meijer, and Walmart Canada.

Tania Woodcock, Project Manager for the Ocean Disclosure Project, said:

“We are happy to share that ALDI Australia has become the first Australian supermarket to join the Ocean Disclosure Project and disclose details of its seafood sourcing. By doing so, ALDI Australia has shown leadership in seafood transparency and has publicly demonstrated its commitment to responsible sourcing of seafood. Participation in the Ocean Disclosure Project continues to increase, and its reach is now expanding into new regions.”

ALDI Australia’s full profile can be viewed at: https://oceandisclosureproject.org/companies/aldi-australia

Aldi UK & Ireland joins Ocean Disclosure Project

Published 25/09/2019

We are pleased to announce retailer Aldi UK & Ireland has become the newest participant in the Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP).

Aldi UK & Ireland has published a seafood disclosure, containing a list of the fisheries from which it sourced seafood for its own-label wild-caught seafood products in 2018, alongside information on fishery management, catch method, and environmental impact.

Fritz Walleczek, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK , said: “ Improving sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of our products is a key focus for Aldi, and we are proud that 100% of our primary fresh, frozen and canned fish is already responsibly sourced in the UK . We are delighted to be part of the ODP and will continue to work with our suppliers towards ensuring all of the fish and seafood in our own - label products is sustainable.”

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership started the ODP in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. To date, 20 other companies in North America and Europe have participated, including Aldi US, which published its first disclosure earlier in 2019.

Other ODP participants include UK retailers Asda, Co-op Food, Lidl UK, Morrisons, and Tesco, and North American retailers Publix Supermarkets, Walmart US, Walmart Canada, Giant Eagle, and Meijer.

“We are pleased to welcome Aldi UK & Ireland to the Ocean Disclosure Project,” said Tania Woodcock, ODP Project Manager. “Aldi UK & Ireland’s participation in the ODP means that most seafood retailers in the UK are now transparent about their wild-caught seafood sourcing. We hope that UK retailers that have yet to disclose their seafood sourcing will take note that they are now among the minority and shift their practices to be more transparent.”

Aldi UK & Ireland’s full profile can be viewed at: https://oceandisclosureproject.org/companies/aldi-uk-ireland

Asda becomes first retailer to publish farmed seafood sources as part of the Ocean Disclosure Project

Published 10/09/2019

In a move to increase transparency in seafood supply chains, UK supermarket Asda has become the first retailer to publish sourcing details for its farmed seafood, as part of an update to the company’s annual Ocean Disclosure Project profile. The update marks the first time that an ODP participant has publicly disclosed information on both wild and farmed species.

Previously, the profile described all own-brand, wild caught seafood retailed by the business along with data relating to management, fishing techniques and environmental impact. It now also contains information on the origin of farmed fish and shellfish including whether the source is certified to a recognized standard and provides environmental information on marine inputs for feed, impacts on wild species, and water quality.

Asda was the first retailer to publish details of the origin of its own brand wild caught seafood through the ODP in 2015 and earlier this year became the first to publish specific vessel information for boats that catch plaice, haddock and cod.

Asda sources 12 different species of farmed fish and shellfish including Atlantic salmon, European seabass, and pangasius. In 2018, 90% of Asda’s wild-caught and farmed seafood came from sources certified as sustainable or responsibly farmed and a further 3% came from fisheries in Fisheries Improvement Projects.

Chris Brown, Senior Director for Sustainable Business at Asda, said:

“Increasing the transparency of seafood supply chains is an area where we’ve consistently led the industry, from being the first to disclose wild-caught seafood sources, to being the first to report down to individual vessels bringing in the catch. The inclusion of farmed seafood in our ODP profile marks another step forward in providing our customers with clear and open information, so they can trust in what they buy from Asda. We hope that other retailers and brands will follow suit.”

Tania Woodcock, Project Manager for the Ocean Disclosure Project, said:

“We are pleased to now be able to share information on farmed seafood through the Ocean Disclosure Project and are delighted that Asda has chosen to become the first participant to publish its farmed sourcing data. They continue to lead the way in best practices. This is an important step for seafood transparency and for the Ocean Disclosure Project and we hope to start publishing farmed sourcing data for other companies in the future.”

The ODP was started by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. To date, 20 companies, including retailers, suppliers, and aquaculture feed manufacturers from Europe and North America, have participated. Other ODP participants include UK retailers Co-op Food, Lidl UK, Morrisons, and Tesco, and North American retailers Publix Supermarkets, Walmart US, Giant Eagle, Meijer, and Walmart Canada.

Asda’s full profile can be viewed at: https://oceandisclosureproject.org/companies/asda

Asda leads the way on seafood transparency and identifies fishing vessels as part of the Ocean Disclosure Project

Published 09/07/2019

UK supermarket Asda today published data identifying the fishing vessels that supply stores with cod, haddock and plaice. The data is being shared as part of the company’s annual update of its Ocean Disclosure Project profile, which describes all own-brand, wild caught seafood retailed by the business along with data relating to management, fishing techniques and environmental impact. The publication marks the first time that a UK retailer has systematically begun to identify and publicly disclose information on specific fishing vessels and marks a significant step forward in seafood transparency.

The new disclosure released by Asda marks the start of a process where the business will eventually publish vessel data for all own-brand, seafood products where it is practicable and the information is not commercially confidential. The published data identifies vessel names, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) numbers and country of origin. IMO numbers serve as a unique vessel identifier that can be traced back to a vessel even when the vessel changes name, flag, or ownership. The IMO numbering scheme is internationally recognized, and its use is promoted to improve vessel monitoring and transparency. All fishing vessels greater than 100 gross tons and vessels of 12 meters or more in length that fish outside of their national jurisdiction are eligible for an IMO number.

Chris Brown, Sustainability Director for Asda, said:

“Asda has a commitment to transparency in supply chains and seafood is an area where our customers want to know exactly where we find their fish. By providing details around vessels for some species we can begin to take our approach to the next level and provide leadership in the retail sector. Transparency is the foundation for our relationship of trust with shoppers and we will continue to keep pushing back the barriers to disclosing information about the products we sell.”

Tania Woodcock, Project Manager for the Ocean Disclosure Project, said:

“We are delighted that Asda has again shown leadership in seafood transparency and become the first retailer to begin to systematically publish details of the specific vessels that supply their stores. This is an important first step towards a fully transparent seafood supply chain and we hope other companies will follow suit. The Ocean Disclosure Project is the leading global platform for disclosing information about wild seafood sourcing and will continue to expand the scope of data provided by companies for public scrutiny.”

Peter Horn, Project Director of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ ending illegal fishing project, said:

“International Maritime Organization numbers are an essential tool in the fight against illegal fishing, because they enable and improve monitoring, control, and surveillance of fishing. The ability to track and uniquely identify the vessels at the start of the seafood supply chain is vital to assure buyers that seafood is sourced from legal fishing operations. We hope that other industry organizations follow suit in this important step in tackling illegal fishing and improving transparency.”

The ODP was started by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. To date, 20 companies, including retailers, suppliers, and aquaculture feed manufacturers from Europe and North America, have participated.

Asda was the first company to disclose its seafood sourcing via the ODP in 2015 and has published an annual disclosure every year since then. Other ODP participants include UK retailers Co-op Food, Lidl UK, Morrisons, and Tesco, and North American retailers Publix Supermarkets, Walmart US, Giant Eagle, Meijer, and Walmart Canada.

Asda’s full profile can be viewed at: https://oceandisclosureproject.org/companies/asda

Asda 2019 Fishing Vessel List

Ocean Disclosure Project calls on seafood industry to be more transparent - urges 115 companies to disclose fisheries where they source product

Published 01/05/2019

The Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP) has written to 115 seafood-buying companies across the globe asking them to publicly disclose the list of wild-capture fisheries where they source seafood. The initiative is intended to promote transparency within the global seafood supply chain and drive forward improvements in fishery management. Leading companies such as Walmart, Tesco, Thai Union and Skretting Norway have already disclosed source fisheries but there are many businesses that maintain secrecy around seafood sourcing despite the fact that there are few risks to commercial confidentiality.

The ODP wants companies to contribute to seafood transparency as an integral part of sustainable sourcing practices. Relatively few companies have published their seafood sourcing so far, making it difficult for consumers and investors to hold them accountable to their commitments or to understand the environmental risks associated with the fisheries in question. Increasing transparency in seafood sourcing would build confidence in the industry and promote those companies that source responsibly.

Among the 115 companies written to by the ODP are members of the sustainable seafood initiatives Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) and the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (SSC). Several members of these initiatives have already made full sourcing disclosures either via the ODP or as bespoke corporate documents. These include Cargill, Skretting Norway, Thai Union, Joseph Robertson Ltd, Cooperative Food, Lidl UK, Morrisons, Marks and Spencer, and Tesco.

The ODP is asking companies to either prepare a bespoke disclosure (e.g. HEB) or work with a partner NGO in developing a public sourcing profile (e.g. Thai Union and Marks & Spencer). Alternatively, companies can report for free via the ODP website; companies simply need to submit a list of species and source fisheries and the ODP will create a profile including information about fishing gear, environmental impacts, certifications and management. Companies that participate in the ODP are entitled to display the logo on corporate communication materials and are recognised via the ODP website and media communications.

“Companies that disclose their seafood sourcing alongside environmental information are better placed to communicate their good practices and highlight progress towards responsible sourcing commitments,” said Tania Woodcock, ODP Project Manager. “The ODP provides a simple way for companies to disclose using a common reporting template.”

Tania Woodcock continued: “We will be seeking to work with all those companies that are interested in promoting transparency and will publish a list of those companies that responded and those that refused. Consumers, investors, trade associations and conservation groups all have an interest in seeing how seafood-buying companies perform against their sustainability commitments and understanding where the fish come from and the associated impacts.”

The ODP was started in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. Today, 19 companies participate in the ODP, including major retailers, fish feed manufacturers, and seafood suppliers from Europe and North America. All ODP profiles and other known disclosures are shared through the ODP website.

Bakkafrost joins Ocean Disclosure Project

Published 01/04/2019

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is pleased to announce Faroese salmon farming company Bakkafrost has become a participant in the Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP).

Bakkafrost has published a seafood sourcing disclosure to coincide with the publication of its latest Healthy Living Sustainability Report. The disclosure contains a list of the main wild-catch fisheries from which Bakkafrost sources marine ingredients for use in its fish feed, produced in house for its salmon farming operations. The source list is published alongside information on fishery management, catch method, and environmental impact.

“Good access to local marine sources has enabled us to maintain a high nutritional content in our feed. Ensuring these sources are sustainable is a priority for us. We are very pleased to be increasing transparency about our sourcing through the Ocean Disclosure Project.” Odd Eliasen, Managing Director, Havsbrún

SFP started the ODP in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. To date, 18 other companies in North America and Europe have participated. Other ODP participants include fish feed manufacturers Biomar Norway, Cargill/EWOS, and Skretting Norway.

“We are pleased to welcome Bakkafrost to the Ocean Disclosure Project,” said Tania Woodcock, ODP Project Manager. “Thanks to its fully vertically integrated value chain, Bakkafrost has full control over production and is able to trace its use of marine ingredients from North Atlantic fisheries to feed to the final salmon product. This enables them to be completely transparent about their sourcing.”

Bakkafrost’s latest sustainability report can be viewed at:

https://www.bakkafrost.com/media/2012/2018-sustainability-report.pdf

Tesco joins Ocean Disclosure Project

Published 25/03/2019

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is pleased to announce UK retailer Tesco has become the newest participant in the Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP).

Tesco has published two seafood disclosures, containing a list of the main wild-catch fisheries from which Tesco sourced in 2017 and 2018, alongside information on fishery management, catch method, and environmental impact.

Giles Bolton, Responsible Sourcing Director for Tesco said: “We want our customers to be able to enjoy sustainable and affordable fish now and long into the future, so we’re determined to play our part in protecting the world’s oceans and fish stocks. Publishing data as part of the Ocean Disclosure Project underlines our commitment to transparency right across our supply chains as we continue to drive up standards in environmental sustainability.”

SFP started the ODP in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. To date, 17 other companies in North America and Europe have participated.

Other ODP participants include UK retailers Asda, Co-op Food, Lidl UK, and Morrisons, and US retailers Publix Supermarkets, Walmart, Giant Eagle, and Meijer.

“By participating in the Ocean Disclosure Project, Tesco has demonstrated its commitment to responsible sourcing of seafood,” said Tania Woodcock, ODP Project Manager. “Tesco’s disclosure represents a significant proportion of the seafood consumed in the UK. We hope that other UK retailers and seafood suppliers will also be encouraged to support transparency in the seafood sector by disclosing their seafood sourcing.”

Ian Rolmanis, Buyer Engagement Director, UK & EU added “SFP and Tesco have been working together for many years on the sustainability of their seafood supply chain and the release of their wild sourcing information through ODP is a very exciting move towards increased transparency and should be commended.”

Albion publishes 2019 ODP profile

Published 15/03/2019

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is pleased to announce Canadian seafood supplier Albion Farms & Fisheries has renewed its participation in the Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP) for a second year, and published an update to its online profile.

Albion joined the ODP in 2018 as the first Canadian company to participate, with Guy Dean, the company’s VP and Chief Sustainability Officer, writing in a SFP blog post, “I knew it was only a matter of time that this important project would trickle down to North America and Albion wanted to be a part of it.”
Albion’s profile includes a complete, updated list of all the fisheries used to source wild seafood, along with information on management, catch method, and environmental impact.

“While there were only marginal differences in the products we sourced and sold in 2017 vs. 2018, this project has validated our own internal traceability platform and continues to create a high level of accountability that our own internal sustainability policy, as well as the UN SDG 14 goals focused on sourcing more sustainable seafood, are being achieved,” Dean said of the renewal. “Any company that cares about maintaining a profitable business and the long-term promotion of a sustainable resource needs to join this project and help us create a transparent tipping point of change."

SFP started the Ocean Disclosure Project in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. To date, 16 other companies, including retailers, suppliers, and aquaculture feed manufacturers from Europe and North America, have participated.

Other ODP participants in North America include Canadian seafood supplier Tradex Foods, US retailers Publix Supermarkets, Walmart, Giant Eagle, and Meijer, and US seafood supplier North Atlantic, Inc.

"It is great to have Albion Farms & Fisheries participate in the ODP for a second year,” said Tania Woodcock, ODP’s Project Manager. “Their experiences demonstrate just how useful a transparency process like the ODP can be for the reporting business as well as interested stakeholders."

Albion’s updated profile is available here: https://oceandisclosureproject.org/companies/albion