Sea Port Products announced on Wednesday that it is partnering with the New England Aquarium to assess the fisheries and farms from which it sources seafood.
The aquarium will also help the Seattle-based importer and distributor improve its sustainable seafood purchasing policy. Sea Port imports more than 40 species from about a dozen countries.
William “Bill” Dresser commended the aquarium for its willingness to work cooperatively with industry as well as its Go Blue! sustainable seafood initiative.
“The New England Aquarium has advised a number of diverse companies. They understand the importance of engaging the seafood industry as a way to ensure the protection and preservation of the ocean and its supply of seafood as well as to support the development of sustainable aquaculture,” said Dresser.
“We at Sea Port have long believed that issues related to sustainability and longevity of the seafood supply need to be approached as a collaborative effort that includes all stakeholders — producers, industry, the conservation community and consumers,” he added. “We believe that change must be initiated from within and navigated by industry, first and foremost. The New England Aquarium offers us the scientific expertise that we need to be able to make appropriate choices for procurement and provide our customers meaningful information about the resource.”
“Sea Port has made the important decision to publicly commit their time, energy and leadership to improving seafood sustainability,” said Heather Tausig, the aquarium’s VP of conservation. “Such a decision is never easy, but it is a wise one. They know that their business is dependent on the sustainability of our ocean resources.”
Stop & Shop, a Northeast supermarket chain, is also among the companies that’s working with the New England Aquarium on enhancing its sustainable seafood purchasing policy.
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