Sealord joins global alliance to ensure tuna sustainability

Media release from Sealord Group Ltd

Sealord joins global alliance to ensure tuna sustainability

Sealord has become the first New Zealand company to partner with a global alliance of scientists, leading conservationists and industry to ensure global tuna fisheries are sustainable and protect them for the future.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) now lists Sealord as an official Participating Company, following an independent three month audit process to ensure the company’s traceability and procurement practises are in line with Foundation standards.

According to ISSF President Susan Jackson, Sealord’s contribution will help make tangible improvements in areas such as bycatch reduction, fisheries management and eliminating illegal fishing.

“We look forward to working with Sealord to improve fishing practices and to ensure that sustainable methods are in place to keep the world’s tuna resources healthy,” Jackson said.

Sealord General Manager New Zealand Marketing, David Welsh, is delighted the company can partner with this global group working with fishermen in the Western Pacific and other areas to make measurable improvements, based on good science and facts.

“Sealord is investing in practical programmes that will improve tuna fisheries management and further reduce bycatch levels.

“Some of the world’s leading conservationists and scientists run the ISSF programmes. In New Zealand, our fisheries are well managed and Sealord wants to see global tuna fisheries managed to the highest of standards,” said David.

The ISSF has 18 industry participants and the international World Wildlife Fund is a founding member. The ISSF Environmental Stakeholder committee also includes the Marine Stewardship Council, Sea Turtle Management and Conservation, Conservation International and Birdlife International.

Sealord has signed up to the targets of the ISSF programmes* which include:

- Eliminating half the discarded bycatch from purse seine fisheries by 2014

- All skippers trained in bycatch reduction, monitoring and data reporting by Jan 2013

- 100% observer coverage on vessels by Jan 2013

- Eliminate transhipments at sea by Jan 2012

The ISSF is a partner in the newly launched Global Environment Facility programme to introduce sustainable fisheries management to the 64% of the world’s oceans currently outside the jurisdiction and responsibility of any individual country. This partnership includes 182 member governments, UN bodies and conservation organisations.

Ends

Full list of improvement programmes and targets: http://iss-foundation.org/make-the-commitment-plan/

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