Pacific Seafood Group

Sustainability strategy

Pacific Seafood Group publishes an annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) report where it describes the company’s sustainability efforts and goals, though most information is qualitative. The company could improve its reporting by setting forward-looking and time-bound quantitative targets across key environmental and social metrics, thereby increasing its accountability among stakeholders.

Sourcing

Pacific Seafood Group discloses its complete product list and claims to process 34 Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified species. The company could further improve transparency around its supply chain by providing detailed quantitative data on the geographic location, species and certified status for the entirety of its marine ingredient portfolio, in doing so increasing accountability among stakeholders.

Environmental footprint

Pacific Seafood Group has developed several activities that aim to reduce its environmental footprint. The company’s meal plant processes nearly 100 percent of the waste into fish meal and oils, as well as outsourcing for fish and shellfish-based organic fertilizers. Similarly, all processing locations use recyclable packaging and coated fibre boxes to distribute products, which the company states has reduced group-wide waste by nearly 1,000 tonnes per year. The company could set forward-looking targets across these environmental metrics, in addition to addressing other important issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater use, and annually disclose its progress, thus further improving its accountability.

Ecosystem impacts

Pacific Seafood Group does not explain how its operations impact surrounding ecosystems, nor does it disclose how the company seeks to mitigate the potential adverse impact. The company should disclose more information about how it reduces the risk of illegal, unreported and unreported (IUU) fishing and how it addresses bycatch and ghost gear in its operations.

Implementation of human and labour right policies

Although Pacific Seafood Group states that it promotes and protects human rights and fair labour standards, the company does not provide any evidence of processes in place to identify risks, track responses or enable the remediation of any potential adverse human rights impacts resulting from its operations.

Support for local communities

Pacific Seafood Group states that it invests in local communities by partnering with governments to develop marine infrastructure, reinvest in processing capacity and support innovative economic development programmes. However, the company does not provide any details on the impact of its activities. To better support local communities, Pacific Seafood Group could develop and disclose formal commitments around strengthening the livelihoods of people living in the areas where it operates.