On September 2022, 9, WWF Japan, in collaboration with Seafood Legacy Co., Ltd., held an online seminar titled "Considering sustainable seafood procurement required by retail companies," aimed at retailers, seafood companies and organizations, distribution and sales companies, and others.
In recent years, the Japanese fisheries industry has been promoting sustainable resource management and other measures, such as the amendment of the Fisheries Law and the enactment of the "Law Concerning the Optimization of Domestic Distribution of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants, etc." (Fishery Product Distribution Optimization Law).IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishingWhile efforts to eradicate the disease are being strengthened, various problems have emerged with both domestic and imported seafood, including declining catches of popular fish such as saury that are a staple of Japanese dinner tables, mislabeling of origins, false catch reports, and human rights violations of crew members by foreign vessels.
Based on the contents of the seminar, this time we will introduce the current situation and risks surrounding seafood products, as well as explain the roles and responsibilities expected of companies that handle seafood products.
We look back on the presentation by WWF Japan's Satoshi Maekawa, "Challenges in sustainable fishing and seafood procurement."
Regarding the current state of fishery resources, wild fishery production is predicted to decline in the future, while aquaculture is predicted to continue to expand. Approximately one-third of the world's fishery resources are depleted, and less than 3% of them remain to be developed. In addition, more than half of the fishery resources around Japan are considered to be overfished or in poor condition.
Furthermore, as an environmental and social challenge for the fishing industry, it is estimated that the global catch from IUU fishing is three to six times the amount of fish produced by Japanese fisheries, and these are sold at unfairly low prices. It is also estimated that about 3% of the seafood imported into Japan from major importing countries comes from IUU fishing.
In addition, in the fishing industry, although it is not a target species,BycatchThe waste of fishery products and by-catch of wildlife that should be protected,Ghost GearThere are problems such as the above, and the current situation in which aquaculture requires the feeding of large amounts of wild fish (farmed fish require the feeding of more wild fish than they are produced), as well as the antibiotics used in aquaculture leading to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.
Taking into account these current situations and challenges, WWF Japan will define what sustainable fishing and aquaculture is.
What is sustainable fishing?
1. Resources are well maintained
2. No adverse effects on the ecosystem or environment
3. There are rules and mechanisms in place to manage the situation and they are followed.
What is sustainable aquaculture?
1. No adverse effects on the ecosystem or environment
2. Seed stocks are maintained in good condition
3. Ecosystem disturbance caused by resource procurement is kept to a minimum.
4. There are rules and mechanisms in place to manage the situation and they are followed.
It is also important that illegal and unsustainable seafood can be identified from production and raw material procurement to the point of consumption, meaning that traceability is properly in place.
In addition, initiatives related to sustainable fisheries, such as local production for local consumption and food education, utilization of unused fish, development of complete aquaculture techniques, and land-based aquaculture (closed circulation), each have their own advantages and challenges.
Both wild fishing and aquaculture have environmental and social issues, and it is important to make comprehensive improvements. It is also important for companies that handle seafood to take steps to procure sustainable seafood, establish traceability, and eliminate seafood from IUU fishing.
Seafood Legacy Ryo Takahashi will give a presentation entitled "The Role and Responsibility of Companies in the Seafood Market."
Countries around the world have enacted laws and regulations to address environmental issues such as climate change, pollution of natural resources, and resource depletion, as well as social issues such as human rights violations, slave labor, and fraud (IUU fishing and theft), while the financial sector has implemented ESG integration and sustainability-linked loans. These social issues cannot be ignored in the fishing industry, and there have been cases where companies that have failed to address them have come under fire in the market.
By formulating, announcing and implementing a responsible sourcing policy as a company
・Ability to generally communicate initiatives that pursue sustainability beyond certified seafood
・Reduces the risk of being seen as contributing to resource depletion, biodiversity destruction, and human rights violations
・Ability to develop sales expansion strategies for overseas markets and customers with procurement policies
・By eliminating non-social raw materials from the supply chain, we can build a foundation for business continuity.
Some examples include:
Examples of companies that are actively promoting sustainable and responsible sourcing of seafood include AEON Co., Ltd. (selling sustainable products and eliminating illegal trade, etc.), the Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union, which has formulated the "Co-op's 2030 Environmental and Sustainability Policy" and set and published "Co-op Products Goals for 2030," etc.), Seven & i Holdings (striving to ensure traceability, eliminating IUU fishing, avoiding overfishing and bycatch, and expanding procurement from producers who are committed to sustainable fishing, etc.), and the hotel industry (making some of the seafood they use certified seafood).
Seafood eco-labelling can be used as one tool to achieve sustainable and responsible sourcing, but what are the challenges and benefits?
The following are some of the challenges and benefits of using fishery eco-labeled products.
Issues when using seafood eco-labeled products
・Compared to the types of fish caught in Japan, there are fewer certified fishery products available.
・Importing marine products is not possible in container units because the quantity used at the final destination is small and inventory is held up.
・A common issue for both domestic and imported seafood is that certified products cannot be sold at a high price to customers. This prevents the final market from expanding and the number of players from increasing.
・There are few intermediate distributors with CoC certification, making it difficult to obtain items.
Benefits of using marine eco-label products
・Approach customers who seek ethical consumption ・Enter new markets
・You can strengthen your company's CSR activities (contribution to SDGs and inclusion in integrated reports)
・You can support fishermen who are working towards sustainable fishing practices by purchasing fish.
・Ability to distinguish between sustainable and non-sustainable seafood (those at risk of IUU fishing)
The environment surrounding seafood is changing dramatically, with environmental issues such as climate change and the decline of marine resources worldwide, and social issues such as IUU fishing and human rights violations becoming more apparent. Accordingly, the responsibilities and roles of companies that handle seafood are becoming greater. It is considered an important responsibility for companies that handle seafood to properly clarify the purpose and value of using the seafood eco-label, and then to formulate and implement policies to achieve sustainable seafood procurement.
Text: Shino Kawasaki
After planning and editing corporate advertisements at a design office, she became a freelance writer, copywriter, and food coordinator in 2016. She writes for a variety of media, including women's magazines published by major publishers, food and beverage magazines and websites, and medical information websites.
share
Key terms and concepts to understand seafood sustainability.
