SeaBOS establishes time-bound sustainability goals

Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS), an organization made up of the CEOs of 10 of the world’s largest seafood companies, has established a set of time-bound goals intended to push the seafood industry towards sustainability.

The new goals were established during a dialogue in October 2020, and include measurable metrics on sustainability issues like illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; extending a collaboration with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative; agreeing on a strategy to reduce the use of antibiotics; and setting a CO2 emissions reduction goal for each company.

”SeaBOS is rising to the challenge,” SeaBOS Chair Therese Log Bergjord said. “It’s time to face the facts – the situation is critical and we have to act. We can all do better. I hope more will follow our example to build momentum on the ocean stewardship agenda.”

The goals, according to a press release from SeaBOS, will ”guide SeaBOS activities over the coming years.” The established emissions targets are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, and the members have also highlighted a need for further government regulation to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management.

“The leaders of the seafood industry have taken action to support the health of fish stocks and the ocean ecosystems we all depend on,” Stockholm Resilience Centre Science Director Professor Henrik Österblom – who helped instigate the development of SeaBOS – said.  ”With governments now sharing this vision, we hope that transformational change is imminent.”

Established in 2016, SeaBOS members include the Maruha Nichiro Corporation, Nissui, Thai Union, Mowi, Dongwon Industries, and other major international seafood companies. The organization’s scientific work is funded by the Walton Family Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.