Ocean Brands of Canada, Simplot Australia, and Bolton Group of Italy have pledged their support to the North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA), the alliance of supply chain stakeholders seeking to secure the long-term, science-based management of Northeast Atlantic pelagic stocks.
NAPA was launched in 2019 to oppose unilateral quota-setting above the scientific advice within the Northeast Atlantic region, and in response to the now decade-long catch-share deadlock among coastal states over theNortheast Atlantic mackerel, Atlanto-Scandian herring, and Northeast Atlantic blue whiting fisheries. The group collectively represents purchasers of more than EUR 800 million (USD 890.5 million) worth of Northeast Atlantic pelagic seafood
In 2021, NAPA welcomed 21 new businesses to its 50-strong membership, including Woolworths South Africa and the Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU). With the addition of Ocean Brands, Simplot Australia, and Bolton Group, NAPA Project Lead Tom Pickerell said the group now has partner companies in Asia, Africa, North America, Australia, and Europe. They represent NAPA’s first supporting partners from Canada, Australia, and Italy, respectively and their seafood products, which include the brands John West Australia, Ocean’s, Gold Seal, Millionnaires, Rio Mare, Saupiquet, Isabel, and Cuca, are consumed throughout Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
“The Northeast Atlantic is incredibly productive, busy, and lucrative when it comes to commercial fisheries. The rapid growth in NAPA membership goes to show the importance that food service businesses, processors, brands, buyers, and retailers everywhere are placing on the sustainable management of these pelagic stocks,” he said.
Canned fish producer Bolton Group joined NAPA due to “problematic management” of pelagic stocks in the Northeast Atlantic, which is an “element of worry” for the company and against its values, explained its global sustainable development director food, Luciano Pirovano.
“We are committed to the responsible sourcing of all our fish to ensure the long-term prosperity of the stocks and to protect the health of the oceans – this is also part of our transformational partnership with WWF. Our commitments turn into practice not only through our procurement activities, but also through our advocacy activities, of which NAPA is part," Pirovano said. “The fact that the global marketplace has set aside competition in order to come together and advocate for sustainable fisheries management speaks to the seriousness of the issue."
Image courtesy of NAPA
