High Liner Foods Incorporated, the Nova Scotia-based frozen seafood company, announced last week that they have achieved 99 percent of its goal to source all its seafood from "certified sustainable or responsible" fisheries and aquaculture, coming really close to reaching the sustainability goal the company pledged to reach back in 2010. High Liner originally pledged to reach this goal by the end of 2013.
"Three years ago, we set an ambitious goal that fundamentally changed the way we do business, and I'm very proud that we've achieved 99 percent of that goal," said Henry Demone, CEO of High Liner Foods. "I applaud the efforts of our entire team, and particularly our Corporate Director of Sustainability, Bill DiMento, and our Sustainability Council, procurement team, and systems development team for giving us a tool to track raw material purchases."
Of the eight major species of fish and shellfish that High Liner Foods purchases, it has achieved 100 percent of its goal for Atlantic cod, haddock, pollock, sole/flounder, Pacific cod and Pacific salmon. The company says it has achieved 98 percent of its commitment for Tilapia and 91 percent for shrimp, which when combined totals 196 million pounds of the products purchased in 2013.
Among the species that don't currently meet High Liner's sustainability criteria are various species of squid, ocean perch, and small wild shrimp.
"Together, with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and others within the NGO community, High Liner Foods has assumed a leadership role in substantial fishery and aquaculture improvements around the world. From day one, our efforts have been focused on continuous improvements, and that commitment will continue," said DiMento. "The most powerful way to catalyze fishery improvements is through continuous buyer engagement in the process. High Liner Foods is a great example of an industry leader using its purchasing power to bring about real positive changes throughout its supply chain," said Jim Cannon, CEO of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, High Liner Foods' non-governmental organization (NGO) partner.
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