June 9, 2021 – Fishta Seafood, Inc. and USAID, through its Fish Right Program and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), formalized their 17-month initial partnership to adopt responsible seafood sourcing (RSS). Signed last April 16, 2021, the initiative aims to ensure seafood sustainability and increase supply chain transparency.
The partnership will oversee a series of activities, including buyer and consumer education, supply chain mapping, supplier engagement and development of the company’s RSS policy, among others.
RSS policy supports anti-IUU fishing measures, exclusion of endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species, right-sizing and adherence to local and national fisheries regulations. It allows buyers and processors like Fishta to consistently provide seafood products while preserving the health of the marine environment and the livelihoods of local fishing communities.
Fishta Seafood, Inc., a local seafood processor, distributor, retailer, and a major Philippine supermarket concessionaire, takes pride in leading the industry towards responsible seafood sourcing.
“Our oceans are facing unprecedented threats, predominantly Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and we acknowledge the need to address these by sourcing consciously and responsibly. We owe it to our customers to provide seafood that is healthy, high quality, responsibly-sourced, and not caught in ways that harm the environment,” General Manager Carina Ong stated.
Pedro Ferreiro, Fisheries Markets Director of SFP, underlines the important role of businesses in achieving sustainable supply chains and promoting national development.
“Working toward a sustainable future for our fisheries requires strong commitment and leadership from both public and private institutions. We are grateful to Fishta for taking on this challenge and walking the journey of sustainable seafood with us,” he added.
The USAID Fish Right Program is a partnership between the governments of the United States and the Philippines to promote fisheries management and marine biodiversity conservation. Fish Right enables sustainable fisheries by reducing threats to biodiversity and improving marine ecosystem governance.