On March 17, Nutreco Sustainability Director José Villalon and partners from Stockholm Resilience Centre, Cermaq and Thai Union updated the industry about SeaBOS at the Seafood Expo North America in Boston.
During the “Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship” panel discussion, the group described SeaBOS activities to a public audience and provided an update on the challenges and solutions that the organisation is tackling as the seafood industry strives for good stewardship of the ocean.
The seminar addressed steps taken since the last SeaBOS dialogue held in Japan in September. The four panel members, representing SeaBOS member companies, provided updates on the organisation’s five task forces, its strategic focus and how it is increasing transparency and traceability and monitoring and tracking progress in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Villalon is Chair of Task Force 1, together with CP Foods, Maruha Nichiro, Dongwon Group and a number of Stockholm Resilience Centre scientists. This task force is focused on reducing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activity and modern slavery. During the panel discussion, he described the progress made on an exciting proof of concept. “This model will demonstrate how using innovative technology on commercial fishing boats – including facial recognition software, fish species recognition software, vessel positioning and tracking, and blockchain – is not only feasible, but can open up a new era of transparency and traceability in the high seas supply chain,” says Villalon.
Nutreco and Skretting are founding members of the SeaBOS initiative, and recognise the importance of sustainably managed oceans and fisheries for future generations. “It is our hope that this show of leadership will encourage others to join and run with the same actions,” says Villalon. “Together, we can make the necessary changes to ensure healthy oceans.”
The Seafood Expo North America is described as the epicenter of the US and North American seafood market where thousands of buyers, suppliers and processing-industry professionals from around the world meet annually to network, learn and do business.
Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) is an initiative resulting from a series of Keystone Dialogues between scientists and seafood companies, and is focused on connecting and uniting leaders in aquaculture, fisheries and science for sustainable ocean governance. The participating companies have committed to act now to lead, support and endorse United Nations Sustainable Development Goals so that they becomes integrated within the aquaculture industry.
Read more about SeaBOS here
Read more about Skretting’s commitment to sustainability here
Read more about Nutreco’s commitment to sustainability here
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