Starkist is now sourcing all of its tuna and salmon from sustainable sources.
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.-based company is now sourcing 100 percent of its tuna and salmon from suppliers that meet the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard for sustainable fishing or are working toward certification, including those participating in a comprehensive fishery improvement project (FIP), the tuna supplier said in a press release.
"StarKist is proud to be the industry leader and consumers can be assured that all of our wild-caught tuna and salmon products are responsibly sourced and certified. StarKist is the first major U.S. tuna and salmon producer to reach this milestone," Starkist President and CEO Andrew Choe said.
Operating a socially and environmentally responsible business is essential for the ongoing success of both StarKist and the food industry, Choe said
Canned and pouched fish buyers are more concerned about the health of the oceans than the average seafood consumer, Starkist said, citing an MSC survey.
Eighty-seven percent of canned seafood consumers want better information so they can be confident they're not buying unsustainable fish or seafood products, and two-thirds of canned seafood consumers are demanding independent labeling of environmental claims.
StarKist is committed to safeguarding the world's fish stocks, the company said. StarKist will continue to work with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation – it was a founding member of ISSF – in addition to its certification initiatives with the Marine Stewardship Council.
Photo courtesy of Cliff White/SeafoodSource
