U.S. crab importer Handy International is spearheading efforts to restore mangrove forests in Ranong, Thailand, the company announced on Monday.
The Salisbury, Md., company brought together more than 110 people to “replant, rehabilitate and repopulate” more than 8,000 square meters of mangrove lost to aquaculture development in recent years.
The company, which is a member of the National Fisheries Institute’s Crab Council, hopes that nesting habitat for crabs can be protected, as well as a vital source of employment for local residents.
Handy has participated in this annual event since 2006 and took the lead in supporting and organizing this year’s effort.
“We are proud of our participation in NFI’s Crab Council and this group will be vital to the future of sustainability in crab, but we’re not satisfied with simply attending meetings and participating in high-level planning,” said Brendan Sweeney, chief sustainability officer at Handy International. “All of the plants and suppliers we work with are members of their respective in-country sustainability organizations, but we’re particularly pleased to have our people getting their hands dirty in doing the hard work of restoring vital habitat instead of just talking about it.
“Sustainability is about a lot more than a label on a product,” continued Sweeney. “This event showcases how continually reinvesting in the environment can have positive affects to the resource itself, to the people who fish it, and to the lives of everyone in the surrounding community.”
All Environment & Sustainability stories >