Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) launched today its first progress report (2017-2022) in which its members, ten of the world's largest seafood companies, commit to science-based action on ocean stewardship. The report has been presented during the United Nations Oceans Conference taking place this week in Portugal by Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria of Sweden, Advocate Emeritus of the Sustainable Development Goals together with Therese Log Bergjord, CEO of Skretting and President of SeaBOS.
"Since we launched SeaBOS at the 2017 UN Ocean Conference, much has been achieved, particularly in creating the foundations for future", said Log Bergjord. "This work is starting to generate results and it is inspiring others. It will be important to gear up activities and partnerships going forward".
At the time of its foundation, SeaBOS established ten commitments to guide its work, ranging from reducing IUU fishing and eliminating modern slavery to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But as of now, the ten member companies have also set time-bound climate targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. All of them – Maruha Nichiro Corporation, Nissui, Thai Union, Mowi, Dongwon Industries, Cermaq, Cargill Aqua Nutrition, Nutreco/Skretting, CP Foods, and Kyokuyo – will publicly report on their Scope 3 emissions by October 2022.
To advance its mission to lead a global transformation for sustainable production and a healthy ocean, SeaBOS aims to address the most pressing challenges facing the seafood sector by sharing lessons and progress made. Such progress includes, for example, the establishment of a roadmap to reduce antibiotics in aquaculture; a strategy for endangered species; science-based best practice guidelines to reduce negative impacts on endangered elasmobranch species (sharks, rays) and seabirds; or a City to Sea plastics strategy. Its model, which combines transdisciplinary scientific expertise with transnational industry experience, is unique.
The organization is also working on commitments such as improving fisheries and aquaculture management through policy collaboration, as well as mechanisms for sustainable aquaculture growth, and ensuring greater transparency in seafood value chains, but is aware that there is still much work ahead. "The reality is clear, we still have a long way to go to create a global transformation", says Martin Exel, Managing Director of SeaBOS. "But we are aligned in our journey and our vision. And we are making progress. We are reporting publicly to help others understand the situation we see now; the vision of where we are headed, and to show how we plan to get there".
Founded in 2016, Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) is a group of ten of the largest seafood companies that connects capture fishermen with feed producers and aquaculture companies in Asia, Europe, and North America. The companies collaborate with science to implement a joint vision for developing more sustainable seafood production and improving ocean health. Together, SeaBOS companies account for more than 18% of the value of the global seafood trade and comprise more than 600 subsidiaries in 95 countries.
* Cover photo by Eva-Lotta Jansson (SeaBOS).
