WASHINGTON, DC, February 16, 2010 World Wildlife Fund (WWF) today announced a new collaboration with SUPERVALU, one of the largest food retailers in the United States, to create a strategy for sustainably sourcing the stores wild-caught seafood. As part of the collaboration, WWF will help SUPERVALU assess the sources of the companys top 20 wild-caught seafood species. The assessments will inform the development of a new sustainable seafood sourcing strategy that will drive the companys seafood purchases. This includes evaluating Marine Stewardship Council certification for wild species.
Fishing is the principal livelihood for over 200 million people around the world and the primary source of protein for about 950 million people. Yet since the 1950s, it is estimated that over 75% of the marine fish stocks are now either fully exploited or overfished. The worlds oceans and the marine life they sustain are at risk.
Major food retailers like SUPERVALU have an important role to play in changing the way seafood is harvested or grown, both to reduce its impact on the planet and to ensure the fish we rely on exist for generations to come, said Bill Fox, vice president of WWF’s fisheries program. “Conserving marine habitats and promoting sustainable fishing methods is important to people and wildlife alike.
Following the completion of the assessments and strategy, WWF and SUPERVALU intend to engage the companys source fisheries on improving environmental practices. SUPERVALU also will work toward sourcing more sustainable farmed seafood by participating in the Aquaculture Dialogues, a WWF-led project that will result in global standards designed to minimize the environmental and social impacts associated with farmed seafood.
Source: World Wildlife Fund