Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.-based Acme Smoked Fish (Booth #2705) is a company that has both a century-long history in the seafood industry and a strong view of the future of seafood.
Acme sells approximately 20 million pounds of smoked and pickled seafood products per year with strict sourcing and processing standards that highlight the company’s commitment to sustainability. Acme will also be celebrating the third year of its Seafood Industry Climate Awards during the 2025 Seafood Expo North America. The awards celebrate early-stage efforts to reduce the seafood industry’s carbon footprint and provide the broader industry with excellent examples of how seafood can be one of the most healthy, sustainable, and climate-friendly proteins in the marketplace.
SeafoodSource spoke with members of Acme’s team about their commitment to sustainability and why it is important to the company and our industry.
SeafoodSource: Acme invests a significant amount of resources and time into its philanthropic and sustainability efforts. What’s the genesis of this work, and what drives the company to continue this investment?
Adam Caslow, Managing Partner & Owner, Acme Smoked Fish: We’re a fourth-generation, family-owned business headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A., that set out on a path to become a more sustainable business about five years ago. Our mission was, and still is, to make sustainability a core value of how we operate as a team – to act as “Citizens of Seafood.”
When we started, we knew there was no overnight solution or “quick fix” to reducing waste, saving resources across our supply chain, focusing on sustainable sourcing, and supporting our people. So, we did our homework, defined the many opportunities available for real impact, and then began to set short- and long-term targets. These targets are cross-functional and include measurable KPIs such as streamlining packaging, finding alternative uses for fish scraps, offsetting our electricity consumption, funding educational scholarships for our team members, and more.
We’ve always been dedicated to food safety, quality, and tradition. We also understand that doing right by our planet, people, and communities is the only way to achieve success and mitigate the inherent risks within our industry for the future. We view our continued investment in our “Citizens of Seafood” value as an opportunity to drive positive impact both inside and outside of Acme, as well as connect to the growing demand for more responsible practices and products.
SeafoodSource: How does the company manage this work, and what are the issues Acme is supporting?
Rob Snyder, Chief People & Sustainability Officer, Acme Smoked Fish: Our sustainability program focuses on four pillars: climate impact, raw material sourcing, waste reduction, and people and community. We involve all areas of our company in our sustainability efforts and intentionally avoid working in “siloes,” as sustainability affects everyone and everything. For climate impact, we are analyzing data throughout the company to prioritize carbon reduction with every decision. For raw material sourcing, we seek out responsible farms and fisheries to source from and generate demand for sustainable seafood. For waste reduction, we are working to minimize overall consumer packaging and increase the recyclable content where available. For people and community, we believe in the future of our employees, their families, and the communities where we work, so we invest in them.
We also built a corporate philanthropy arm in 2021 to address pressing needs within the seafood industry that fell outside the day-to-day scope of the corporation. The Acme Smoked Fish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization with two key focus areas: combating climate change and uplifting the communities of workers within the seafood-processing industry.
Now celebrating its third year, the Seafood Industry Climate Awards (SICA) is Acme Smoked Fish Foundation’s signature program, with a singular purpose of identifying the most promising solutions that will lower the carbon footprint of the seafood industry and increase the leadership role of women and minority communities.
Acme also just joined 1% For the Planet, a global organization that acts as an accountability partner for sustainability-minded businesses. One percent of sales from all Acme brand cold-smoked salmon retail products are donated to support and grow the SICA program. We are thrilled to work with 1% for the Planet and build upon the strong groundwork we have created over the past three years through our foundation and grants program.
SeafoodSource: Who are the Seafood Industry Climate Award winners this year?
Alexandra Golub, Sustainability Director, Acme Smoked Fish: The climate awards support early-stage efforts to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint and increase diversity within the seafood industry. This year, three recipients will each receive a USD 70,000 (EUR 67,000) grant, including an inaugural TD Bank Award for one recipient. Acme will also host a reception at SENA to recognize these award winners.
This year’s grantees represent the Midwest and Great Lakes region, coastal North Carolina, and Portland, Maine. Their unique projects tackle issues facing the domestic seafood industry, specifically circular manufacturing processes, and workforce development. Grantees and their projects are as follows:
- Council of Great Lakes Governors, Inc.
The 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative, led by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP), addresses climate change challenges in the freshwater fishing industry by valorizing fish byproducts and diverting waste from landfills for high- value purposes. This process not only reduces methane and carbon emissions but also captures the maximum value of the fishery and creates a circular economy. The initiative aims to productively utilize 100 percent of each fish in collaboration with key stakeholders, including Indigenous and commercial fishers, processors, researchers, and global industry leaders.
- Oceans 97, LLC
Oceans 97’s vision for zero waste seafood processing involves developing a curriculum and training program for smoked fish, chitin, and mussel powder production in Carteret County, North Carolina. This research effort will support a formal program in zero waste seafood processing and aims to employ women, people of color, and marginalized communities. The curriculum will be developed and operated in partnership with Carteret County Community College.
- Gulf of Maine Research Institute - TD Bank Award
The Aquaculture Apprenticeship Program is a comprehensive, hands-on training initiative designed to build a skilled, sustainable workforce for Maine’s growing aquaculture sector. Managed by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) in partnership with the Maine Aquaculture Association and Southern Maine Community College, the program combines technical education with practical farm experience and prepares apprentices for successful careers in the low-carbon aquaculture industry.
SeafoodSource: What advice would you have for other companies interested in developing or increasing their corporate philanthropy?
Emily Caslow, Chair, Acme Smoked Fish Foundation & Owner: Our first piece of advice would be to listen and learn. Meet with stakeholders across your entire organization to identify the most important issues within the organization. Then, step back and consider the role your company plays in your industry, and identify key areas where your work could make a vital impact.
Also, find like-minded partners; for example, we work closely with Sea Pact on advancing sustainability initiatives and engage a panel of judges for our climate awards who are leaders across different parts of the seafood industry – from aquaculture to academia and beyond. Even if you start small, initial meaningful actions can grow when your entire team is invested and excited, and you can create something big and impactful over time.
