The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) on Thursday announced the launch of its own sustainable seafood seal.
The Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested Seafood seal is designed to aid consumers’ seafood-purchasing decisions at both restaurants and retail outlets. To qualify for the seal, the seafood must have been harvested in the Gulf of Maine and handled by a fishery that contributes to the long-term health of the resource.
GMRI hopes to increase consumer confidence in supporting the region’s fishing economy amid reports of seafood’s sustainability and safety. The seal is meant to be an incentive for fisheries and industry leaders to contribute to the sustainability and long-term health of the resource. A portion of proceeds will go toward GMRI’s efforts to increase the sustainability of Gulf of Marine fisheries.
The seal will initially appear on cod, haddock, lobster and northern shrimp products from the Gulf of Maine region at Hannaford and other retail locations. GMRI is in the process of assessing additional fisheries, with the goal of adding more seafood products to the program later this year. North Atlantic, Bristol Seafood, Slade Gorton & Co., Cozy Harbor Seafood and New Meadows Lobster will be among the first companies to use the seal.
“The seal lets consumers know that an objective science institution has verified responsible harvest and traced the product to the Gulf of Maine,” said Jen Levin, GMRI’s sustainable seafood program manager. “It unifies the region around a shared identity and supports an economically and ecologically thriving seafood industry.”
