Seafood companies act on science based goals to save the oceans

For the first time in the history of seafood production, ten of the largest seafood companies in the world have committed to a set of time-bound and measurable goals that will ensure the industry becomes more sustainable. The goals are the result of four years of dialogues through the science-industry initiative Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS). 

 

SeaBOS is a unique collaboration between scientists and seafood companies across the wild capture, aquaculture and feed production sectors.

Commitments by 2021

During a dialogue in October 2020 the companies agreed a number of goals to achieve their original commitments from 2016.

By the end of 2021, the SeaBOS members will:

• Eliminate IUU fishing and forced, bonded and child labour in their operations– and implement measures to address those issues in their supply chains – with public reporting on progress in 2022 and 2025
• Extend the collaboration with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative to solve the problem of lost and abandoned fishing gear; and combine to clean up plastics pollution from our coasts and waterways
• Agree on a strategy for reducing impacts on endangered species and the use of antibiotics
• Set CO2 emissions reduction goals and reporting approaches from each company

These goals will guide SeaBOS activities over the coming years, and are accompanied by toolkits for action.

The SeaBOS members acknowledge that climate change is having a significant impact on seafood production and that they can all do their share – through their own emission reductions targets and advocacy for implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The members highlight the need for government regulations to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management, to effectively mitigate climate change risks and impacts, and provide for ‘climate smart’ seafood production.

The work of SeaBOS reflects and supports the recently launched ocean action agenda set by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy which commits to sustainable management of 100% of their national waters.

Unique collaboration

SeaBOS is a unique collaboration between scientists and seafood companies across the wild capture, aquaculture and feed production sectors.  Together SeaBOS represents over 10% of the global seafood production, and comprise over 600 subsidiary companies globally.

SeaBOS members include Maruha Nichiro Corporation, Nissui, Thai Union, Mowi, Dongwon Industries, Cermaq, Cargill Aqua Nutrition, Skretting, CP Foods, and Kyokuyo. Key scientific partners are the Beijer Institute for Ecological Economics at the Royal Swedish Academy of Science, University of Lancaster and Stanford Centre for Ocean Solutions.

Science based solutions

SeaBOS is the result of a science-based identification of “keystone actors” in global seafood carried out by the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) in collaboration with the Beijer Institute and GEDB Program at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. This work has been led by SRC science director Henrik Österblom who has been instrumental in not only establishing SeaBOS, but making sure it is built on best available science.

The scientific work is funded by the Walton Family Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

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