New SeaChoice guide steers businesses towards better seafood labeling, helping consumers make smart choice

January 27, 2009

Vancouver, Halifax When it comes to seafood, Canadian consumers don’t always get what they pay for. Rampant mis-labeling of seafood has made recent headlines and customers often have little more than a common name to go on. SeaChoice, Canada’s sustainable seafood program, released a new resource today that will help steer businesses towards the implementation of systems that track where and how seafood is caught or farmed and ensure this information is available for customers, allowing for more ocean-friendly choices.

Unlike the United States or Europe, Canada does not require details like country of origin or whether seafood is farmed or wild to be labeled on seafood – critical information for consumers wanting to choose sustainably. “Better traceability systems are the first step towards better labeling and can curb incidents of mis-representation” said co-author Anna Magera. Last year, researchers at the University of Guelph found that 25 per cent of fish in restaurants and supermarkets was mislabeled. Mislabeled fillets are often sold as species of higher value or, in some cases, endangered fish species are mislabeled as species considered to be eco-friendly.

A crucial component of a sustainable seafood future will require the implementation of traceability systems that are capable of detailing the journey of a product along the entire seafood supply chain, from ocean to plate.

“Pioneering businesses are already adopting traceability systems in response to an overall decline in seafood supply, shaky consumer confidence in seafood labeling and product safety, increasing regulatory demands, and concerns about the health of the world’s oceans,” said Sadie Beaton, co-author of the guide. Seafood Traceability in Canada: Traceability systems, certification, eco-labeling and standards for achieving sustainable seafood will serve as a practical resource for other Canadian businesses to follow suit, and start exploring traceability options.

“As awareness about sustainable seafood grows, great opportunities are arising for businesses to engage with NGOs and certification schemes to develop labeling and traceability programs for the Canadian market,” said Susanna Fuller from the Ecology Action Centre. Developing sustainable procurement policies and better traceability systems are two ways for businesses to meet rising market expectations, support environmentally friendly practices on the water, and ensure our ocean resources last into the future.

For more information, please contact Taina Uitto (National SeaChoice Manager) at info@seachoice.org or 604.685.7445 (ext. 26)

To download a copy of the guide, please click here.
 

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