See 2021 Seafood Stewardship Index

Leading practices 22 April 2022

Ecosystems | Leading practices from the 2021 Seafood Stewardship Index

Ecosystems

This measurement area focuses on what seafood companies are doing to avoid, reduce and/or mitigate negative ecosystem impacts in a number of key areas of fishing, aquaculture and aquaculture feed production. Fishing and aquaculture have an impact on marine ecosystems, while the use of feed in aquaculture can also impact terrestrial ecosystems. The leading companies in the seafood industry have a dominant position in the supply chains of some of most consumed seafood products, such as tuna, salmon or shrimp, and therefore are well positioned to ensure that ecosystem impacts of these products are carefully addressed.

Commitment to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture

With SDG 14 in mind, specifically the targets focused on sustainably managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems (14.2), regulating harvesting and ending overfishing (14.4), it is evident that companies must set time-bound targets to achieve a sustainable supply of seafood.

When looking at the commitments of companies regarding sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, 13% of the companies in scope do not publish any commitment, and 43% have formulated commitments that are not translated into targets.

Leading practice examples

Nomad Foods has set a target of 100% of fish and seafood being sourced from sustainable fishing and responsible farming practices by the end of 2025. The company reports that, as of 2020, 96% of its seafood products are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), and that in some of its markets it has achieved 100% MSC or ASC certified seafood products since the end of 2019. By demonstrating that more than 95% of its portfolio is certified, Nomad Foods is one of the companies that is closest to achieving a sustainable seafood portfolio.

Nutreco has set a target to have 100% of its marine ingredients from MarinTrust-certified sources by 2025. Where MarinTrust certification is unavailable, the company has committed to making sure these ingredients come from fisheries participating in a MarinTrust improvers programme. The company reports against its target and discloses that 69% of its fishmeal and fish oil production is currently certified. While the company has yet to achieve this target, it has shown that it is heading in the right direction.

Mowi states that it has achieved its target of 100% sustainable salmon sourcing, as all of its salmon products has received third-party certification by standards recognised by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI). This makes the company a leader in the supply of sustainable seafood. Mowi also reports that its sourcing of marine ingredients for feed production was in full compliance with its sourcing policy. This means that all marine ingredients are either from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or MarinTrust or in a fishery improvement project (FIP). The company, however, could be more transparent and report the proportion of its marine ingredients that is certified and the proportion that is in FIPs. Mowi also sells other seafood products that the company reports represent less than 1% of its volume but on which it discloses no sustainability information.

Sustainable target fish stocks

Seafood companies involved in fishing or sourcing from wild fish stocks show stewardship by sourcing from stocks that are well managed and/or conducting fishing activities that do not lead to overfishing and ensure the long-term sustainability of fish resources. In the case of overfished stocks, companies can help restore and rebuild fish stocks in the shortest time feasible through improved and effective harvesting regulations and improved catch methods.

73% of the companies report on reducing their impact on target stock species. Certifications and Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs)[1] are commonly mentioned as examples of how companies are reducing their ecosystem impacts. Leading practices on this topic included providing evidence that at least 80% of the portfolio was certified according to standards that have been benchmarked by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) or are approved by the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance (ISEAL).

[1] The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership provides practical guidance to support the seafood industry in developing FIPs.

Protection of terrestrial natural ecosystems

In the global aquaculture industry, soya and palm oil are key ingredients in aquaculture feed production. Seafood companies can work towards achieving conversion-free operations through the sustainable use of soya and palm oil in aquaculture feed production.

While several companies have set deforestation/conversion free (DCF) targets, none of the companies where able to demonstrate that they have achieved 100% DCF supply chains for all of their relevant high-risk commodities. Salmon farmers Austevoll Seafood and Mowi were the only companies that have a DCF target for all their relevant high-risk commodities and also report against this target by disclosing the proportion of commodities that are DCF. Both companies report that no palm oil is used for the production of their salmon feed, and that soya is the only high-risk commodity in their supply chain.

Leading practice examples

Mowi reports that 100% of its soya sourced in 2020 came from deforestation-free areas, was Proterra certified and that none of it is genetically modified. Also, in 2020, as part of the Aquaculture Dialogue on Sustainable Soy Sourcing from Brazil, Mowi’s Brazilian suppliers of soya products committed to implement a 100% DCF soya bean value chain. Early 2022, after the publication of the benchmark, Mowi stated that the company has accomplished its goal for a deforestation and conversion free supply chain.

Austevoll commits to not source soya from Cerrado or Pantanal regions and has signed the Cerrado manifesto. The company states it only buys aquaculture feed with soya that has been certified by ProTerra or RTRS (Round Table on Responsible Soy Association). Austevoll’s salmon farming subsidiary Lerøy Seafood Group has also engaged in the Aquaculture Dialogue on Sustainable Soy Sourcing from Brazil, and sources soya from the same Brazilian suppliers.

Antibiotics use and growth promoting substances

Antibiotic use is prevalent in the global food and agriculture sector, with the aquaculture industry as one of the most important users of antibiotics. Excessive use of antibiotics in human and animal health poses the risk of anti-microbial resistance (AMR), which is considered as one of the most significant public health threats.

Aquaculture companies can demonstrate leadership in addressing antimicrobial resistance by demonstrating effective use of antibiotics and zero use of antibiotics that are critically important for human health. Our benchmark results, however, find that only 30% of the companies have a policy on reducing the use of antibiotics as a prophylactic or growth promoting substances, while all other companies do not provide evidence of how the use antibiotics will be reduced. Of the companies with a policy on antibiotics, two companies, Austevoll Seafood and Nueva Pescanova have developed time-bound targets and progress reporting on the use of antibiotics.

Leading practice examples

Austevoll’s has a time bound target for zero use of antibiotics by 2021. This includes both the prophylactic use of antibiotics and growth promoting substances, as well as antibiotics classified as “medically important”. Moreover, the company discloses the quantities of antibiotics used annually, demonstrating the company is measuring progress against the 2021 target. Finally, the company discloses its process for implementing this policy, through relevant third party and sector-specific certifications.

Nueva Pescanova discloses a ’zero use’ policy towards its use of antibiotics, including prophylactic application and growth promoting substances in all farmed species and geographies. This policy also includes antibiotics classified as critically important antimicrobials for human medicine. The company discloses the process for implementing this policy, through sector-specific certification schemes, such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Global G.A.P. and Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) and auditing. The company also discloses a time bound target for the policy, 2021, which includes reporting progress against the target on the quantities of antibiotics used for the reporting year across all relevant species and geographies.