HOUSTON (September 20, 2011)—Sysco Corp. has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as part of a multi-stage commitment to assess its current seafood supply and develop ways to improve the sustainability of its seafood buying practices and standards by 2015.
Specifically, the company will obtain its top 10 Sysco brand wild-caught seafood species, which represent about 52 percent of the Sysco-branded seafood product line, from fisheries that are either certified, under assessment by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or involved in fishery improvement projects with WWF. These wild-caught seafood products include tuna, clams, cod, pollock, shrimp, scallops, salmon, calamari, lobster and crab.
Additionally, Sysco will encourage its tuna suppliers to engage in the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation in order to move toward long-term procurement from sustainable, MSC-certified tuna sources.
Sysco also will work closely with WWF on mahi-mahi and spiny lobster fishery improvement projects in South and Central America. These improvements, such as the adoption of a National Plan of Action for an Ecuadorian mahi-mahi fishery, will support the sustainable management of the fishery. Sysco says its involvement in helping to improve management of the lobster fisheries will also directly help these fisheries to perform at levels consistent with MSC standards. This benefits local communities, fishermen, suppliers and consumers.
The MSC sets standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability. WWF, the world's leading global conservation organization, is at the forefront of helping businesses to responsibly source wild seafood products.
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