What are you hopeful about when it comes to advancing solutions for sustainable seafood?
Kama: Industry, government, civil society and academia are working together toward common goals – better livelihoods, prosperous economies and healthier ocean ecosystems. There is still much work to do, but there are some shining examples of how collaboration works and where strong management for fisheries benefits fishermen, industry and the environment. For instance, a few of the world’s governments have made commitments to assess all of their fisheries against the Marine Stewardship Council criteria for sustainability. They are committed to working hand-in-hand with the MSC, researchers, NGOs and fisheries to implement stepwise programs to move these fisheries along the path to sustainability.
Teresa: The level of cooperation between the seafood industry and conservation organizations is astounding – particularly considering what the relationships looked like a decade ago. I think there’s a mutual recognition that the problem we need to address is big, and that there are different roles for different types of actors to play.
What were some highlights from this year’s summit?
Teresa: One highlight was the strong focus at the summit on the importance of traceability. There’s so much demand for traceable seafood, and it’s exciting to see the growth in businesses providing these services.
Why do you think seafood buyers continue to look for sustainable seafood?
Teresa: Retailers can’t sell what doesn’t exist. Beyond the value of being a responsible company, we heard from many seafood buyers that they recognize that healthy fisheries mean more fish to sell.
How will the summit help inform the foundation’s ongoing work to help reduce overfishing and improve ocean health?
Kama: The summit brings together industry voices with those from the academic, government and civil society sectors and offers an opportunity for all of us to share information, learn more about each other and our respective needs and goals, and come together around common themes.
Teresa: It’s is a great opportunity to discuss some of the emerging issues in fisheries and seafood – like how we deal with increasing demand for animal proteins, or how investment can incentivize sustainable fisheries.
