Fishing for the future
FISHING FOR THE FUTURE
At Woolies, we’re passionate about fish conservation and safeguarding the ocean. Our planet is defined by its ocean, and therefore so are we. The ocean feeds us, regulates our climate, and generates most of the oxygen we breathe. The ocean has an incredible ability to regenerate itself, so if we act now, we can make a difference.
In line with our stance, Fishing for the Future is a sustainability programme that ensures that all our seafood is responsibly sourced.
YOUR CHOICE MATTERS
At Woolworths, we strongly believe that the responsible consumption of seafood is a key part of a healthy and sustainable global food future. Consumers can play a vital role in sustainable food systems through their food choices. Choosing sustainable seafood helps to rebuild marine life and ensure the availability of healthy seafood for future generations.
SUSTAINABILITY IS THE GOAL
We believe that it’s our collective responsibility to integrate sustainability into seafood production and consumption, from our procurement policies to supply chain best practices and consumer choice. Our aim is to reduce risk, and to create opportunities for sustainable environmental, social and economic development.
REDUCING THE RISKS
If not responsibly managed, fishing and aquaculture can damage habitats, reduce biodiversity and impair the functioning of ecosystems with negative repercussions for the ocean. To achieve a healthy balance, fish stocks must for example be maintained within biologically sustainable limits and aquaculture enterprises must operate within strict standards and best management practices frameworks.
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
We see sourcing as the most important, future-forward retail action to address seafood sustainability and to deliver outcomes that make a difference.
We currently source 42 species from 32 countries, and we obtain seafood from some of the world’s leading and most innovative fisheries and aquaculture companies. By sourcing tuna, Cape bream, silverfish, yellowtail and other species from small-scale fishers, we also support access for small-scale fishers to marine resources and markets.
Our responsible seafood procurement policies are specifically targeted at improving the lives of workers in our supply chain and having a positive impact on the communities from which we source our product.
TAKING A GLOBAL VIEW
Fishing for the Future contributes to the global sustainable seafood movement agenda and broader UN Sustainable Development Goals by:
* Inspiring and enabling our customers to responsibly consume healthy seafood.
* Sourcing seafood that has the most positive environmental, social and economic impacts possible and that strives to minimise adverse impacts.
* Promoting ethical behaviour throughout our seafood supply chains, including respecting international human rights and implementing exemplary labour practices.
* Ensuring that the highest standards of fish health and welfare, built on the “Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare”, are adhered to.
* Ensuring that all our seafood suppliers go beyond compliance and integrate sustainability into everything that they do.
WORKING WITH THE RIGHT PARTNERS
We work in partnership with several key NGOs to adopt innovative new technologies, solutions and thinking around seafood sustainability and to continuously improve sustainability outcomes across our seafood supply chains. These include the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI), Global Tuna Alliance (GTA), Global Seafood Alliance (GSA), International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF), Food Animal Initiative (FAI Farms) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).