Bumble Bee Foods’ wholly-owned subsidiary Anova Food has been granted a SA8000 social certification, a rare feat in the seafood industry, the company announced.
SA8000 social certification is presented to companies based on how they confront eight key performance criteria, which are crafted considering international human rights norms, including: (1) Child Labor; (2) Forced and Compulsory Labor; (3) Health and Safety; (4) Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining; (5) Discrimination; (6) Disciplinary Practices; (7) Working Hours; (8) Remuneration.
The certificate “adds to Anova’s repertoire of sustainability and social responsibility programs conducted within it’s now eight-year-old Fishing and Living initiative,” said the company in a release.
The company’s Fair Trade-certified yellowfin tuna, which has been successfully certified as such for three years now, has resulted in over EUR 200,000 (USD 216,162) of Fair Trade premium being returned to the fishermen and their communities, said Anova. Darden’s Seasons 52 restaurants and retailers Hy-Vee, Price Chopper and Albertsons-Safeway all support Anova’s Fair Trade efforts and offerings.
“One of the goals of the Fair Trade tuna program is eventually reach MSC certification. With our implementing NGO partner MDPI in Indonesia, we have continued down this path since day one, from the implementation of FT USA standards through the expansion of the program towards MSC,” said Blane Olson, Director of Anova Technical Services.
As far as Marine Stewardship Council certification is concerned, Anova has been supplying MSC-certified yellowfin tuna to U.S.-based retailers committed to the program for two years. By June 2017, following the recent certification of the Cook Islands fishery for yellowfin, Anova, alongside its supply partner Luen Thai Fishing Ventures, will convert its main Cook Island supply of high-quality sushi and steak products to MSC certification.
“Anova is truly committed to accomplishing tuna sustainability and social responsibility within its supply chain. Our offerings of MSC tuna, Fair Trade Tuna and SA8000 certified processing are a true sign of the success of Anova’s core value commitments,” the company concluded.
