Global Reporting Initiative aiming to create sector standard for aquaculture and fishing

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is exploring the creation of a sector standard for the agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries sectors, to give companies common standards on which they can base their corporate reporting.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and with seven regional hubs around the globe, GRI is an independent non-governmental organization with the mission of improving the sustainability reporting of businesses, governments, and other organizations.

It currently has a public consultation underway to gather feedback and information on the value and structure of new sustainability standards for the aquaculture and fisheries sectors. GRI has released a draft standard for review, which was independently developed by an expert working group appointed by the GRI’s independent Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB), which recruited experts in aquaculture and wild-catch fisheries to assist in the effort. GRI is accepting public comments on the draft through 30 July via its website. Topics included in the draft include biodiversity and natural ecosystems; climate change adaptation; plant and animal health; food security and safety; economic inclusion; and labor and social standards, amongst other topics.

“The public comment period … Is an opportunity to provide feedback on the clarity, feasibility, completeness and relevancy of the content in the exposure draft,” GRI said in a press release. “The final version of the new sector standard will publish in 2022.”

The end-goal of the standard is to make it easier for companies and other entities to gauge and report the environmental and social impact of their operations, and to provide common metrics by which they can be measured, thereby increasing transparency, according to GSSB Chair Judy Kuszewski.

“A new sustainability reporting standard for agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing is being prioritized by GRI because these sectors have significant impacts – on areas such as climate change, biodiversity, and human rights. I encourage organizations and individuals from around the world to contribute to the public comment period,” Kuszewski said in a press release. “The sector program will enhance the GRI standards by helping companies within sectors deliver consistent and decision-useful reporting, while encouraging dialogue with other organizations and stakeholders on how to address shared sustainability challenges.”

Photo courtesy of Aerial-motion/Shutterstock

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