Happy fish trend continues
The sustainable seafood movement is continuing amongst mainstream labels
with John West now teaming up with one of the world's largest
conservation organisations.
The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) has entered into a Sustainable
Seafood partnership with John West Australia and NZ that features key
milestones for its journey to sustainability.
This follows commitments last year by the two major supermarkets following significant pressure from the WWF and another prominent lobby group, Greenpeace.
John West, as well as other names like Sirena and Greenseas, had been name and shamed by Greenpeace just last year for using fish aggregation devices (FADs).
FADs - an object usually made of buoys or
floats that are tethered to the ocean floor with concrete blocks - have
been linked to the devastation of natural habitats and species.
The new John West/WWF commitment includes removing species of immediate
concern from products, ensuring traceability of seafood products, and
working with international not-for profit, The Marine Stewardship
Council (MSC), on reform.
The commitment further commits John West
Australia products to full sustainability by 2015, however, there is no
specific indication as of yet if this involves the removal of all FADs
across its entire product range.
Despite this John West Australia has developed its own overarching sustainability
strategy, “Our Oceans Forever”, that involves respecting resources, innovative practice, and "passion for people".
The first product to carry
the “Our Oceans Forever” logo is its Pole and Line
Skipjack Tuna range, available in independent supermarkets from February
2012.
Pole and Line returns to traditional fishing methods of ‘one
line, one fish’ reducing the risk of bycatch - and not using FADs.
“At John West Australia, we
are passionate about seafood and dedicated to playing a role in the
long-term health of our oceans," says Terry O’Brien, MD of Simplot Australia, which owns John
West Australia.
"We are committed to responsibly sourcing
our products and look forward to working collaboratively with
WWF-Australia to ensure quality seafood can be enjoyed for generations
to come.”
Last year scientists from the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature warned that five out
of the eight species of tuna are at risk of extinction.
Australians alone consume a staggering $300 million of canned tuna every year.
“Our vision at MSC is to see the world’s oceans teeming with life, and
seafood supplies safeguarded for this and future generations," says Patrick Caleo, manager Australia and NZ, the MSC.
"We look
forward to continuing our relationship with John West Australia in the
journey to achieving this vision, by providing consumers with an
independently certified sustainable choice in seafood.” |