Copy
The FishChoice Current
Sustainable Seafood Coalition
Sustainable Seafood Coalition

FishChoice is pleased to welcome our newest sustainable seafood affiliate, the Sustainable Seafood Coalition. Founded in 2011, the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (SSC) is a group of businesses that collaborate to tackle pressing sustainability challenges facing seafood supply chains in the UK. The coalition members represent all sectors of the seafood industry, from the largest retailers to individual fish and chip shops. The SSC is committed to using the power of the market to incentivize the development of sustainable fisheries and farms. The coalition envisions that in the near-future, all seafood sold in the UK comes from sustainable sources.

The SSC was created after a ClientEarth report on supermarket labelling practices found that environmental claims on seafood were often inconsistent or misleading. Feeling that challenges could be better addressed through collaboration, industry leaders decided to work together, and founded the Sustainable Seafood Coalition with ClientEarth as secretariat. The SSC Codes of Conduct were published in 2014. The codes focus on responsible seafood sourcing and providing consumers with clear, consistent, and accurate seafood labelling. The organization now has 33 members, including eight of the ten largest supermarkets in the UK, all of which have publicly committed to upholding the codes.

Becoming a member of the Sustainable Seafood Coalition is open to all businesses that sell seafood in the UK. For more information on how to join, visit the Sustainable Seafood Coalition's website. In the coming months, FishChoice and the Sustainable Seafood Coalition will be working together to identify opportunities for U.K. seafood suppliers to participate in our Supplier Member Program, so stay tuned!

Seafood Spotlight: Sea Scallops
Seafood Spotlight: Sea Scallops

The worst time to buy scallops is after they have spawned because the adductor muscle is soft and discolored and sheds moisture easily. The best time to buy scallops is in the late summer when prices are low and the quality has improved following the spring spawn. Scallop meats are sold by count per pound, with a premium being paid for larger size meats (lower count per pound). The trick to sea scallops is to not pay $10/lb. for water. Dry scallops will feel sticky whereas a soaked scallop will feel soapy or slick. Although very small quantities of U.S. scallops are harvested inshore by divers, the term “diver” scallops refers to a dry scallop that has not been treated by sodium tripolyphosphate. The phosphates allow the scallop to hold more water, sometimes 20% more. Most scallops are treated using phosphates and even dry scallops are often washed in tripolyphosphate. Sea scallop raw meat coloration varies due to different types of algae they consume from a creamy white to a soft orangish color.
 
Key sustainability sourcing notes for wild-caught U.S. and Canadian sea scallops based on 2014-2016 landings and the most recent MSC certifications as of February, 2019:

  • ~85% of U.S. and Canadian sea scallop landings are MSC-certified (2 Canadian fisheries, 1 U.S. fishery)
  • North American sea scallop landings by volume are ~40% Massachusetts, ~25% Canada Offshore, ~15% New Jersey, and ~20% Other
  • U.S. scallop landings between 2012 and 2016 have fluctuated significantly with a high in 2012 of ~57MM lbs. and a low in 2015 of ~35MM lbs. 
  • <1% of sea scallops are "diver-caught" harvested
Get more details on sourcing, selling, and sustainability with our sea scallop seafood guide.  
Little Shemogue Oyster Company - New Brunswick, Canada

Little Shemogue Oyster Company prides itself on being a farmer and purveyor of cold water oysters. As a producer who farms its oysters in the pristine waters of Little Shemogue Bay, the company is able to provide its customers with high-quality products. With the company's processing and shipping expertise, Little Shemogue Oyster has marketed its signature products to markets across North America. Though the company has been operating since 2006 and has modernized in recent years, the elements which make Little Shemogue products taste great remains the same — the cool, Canadian ocean waters and five small rivers that form a pristine bay with a rich combination of salinity and minerals. Read more...

Robbie's Ocean Fresh, Inc. - Monterey, California
Robbie's Ocean Fresh

Robbie's Ocean Fresh Seafood, Inc. of Monterey is a wholesaler, distributor, and trader of quality seafood serving discerning customers throughout the state of California. Founded in 2002, Robbie's Ocean Fresh Seafood has made a name for itself through the direct distribution of a variety of high-quality seafood. The company primarily sources its wild seafood products from the U.S. West Coast, with a focus on native California species. In addition to its wild seafood options, Robbie's Ocean Fresh Seafood proudly offers a sustainable array of farmed products including Ora King Salmon, blue mussels, and whiteleg shrimp. Read more...

Sustainable Seafood News of the Week
Sustainability Is Key to Fisheries Bill
(The Guardian, 2/15/2019)

Tough Policing is Restoring Indonesia's Fisheries
(Eco-Business, 2/18/2019)

Shrimpers Hope Industry Lost to Warm Seas Won't Be Forgotten
(KSTP, 2/18/2019)

Preserving the Future of Gulf Oysters, One Shuck at a Time
(Forbes, 2/20/2019)

Suppliers Challenge Texas Law Targeting Shark Sales
(Courthouse News Service, 2/20/2019)

Hawaii Aquaculture Industry Struggles to Complete with Foreign Fish Imports
(Hawaii News Now, 2/19/2019)

Could This Tool Save Washington's Shellfish?
(Crosscut, 2/20/2019)

Tomato Tuna Anyone? Plant-Based Meat Has Moved into the Seafood Aisle
(CBS, 2/16/2019)

The Hunt for the Fish Pirates Who Exploit the Sea
(BBC News, 2/18/2019)

Ocean Outcomes Japan Merges with Seafood Legacy
(SeafoodSource, 2/18/2019)

Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder, Even with the Fish We Eat
(ABC News Australia, 2/18/2019)

Corruption-Riddle Caviar Trade Pushes Fish Closer to Extinction
(Mongabay, 2/20/2019)

MSC Suspends Certifications of French, Spanish Sardine Fisheries
(Undercurrent News, 2/19/2019)

How to Decide What Fish You Should Eat and What You Shouldn't
(Forbes, 2/20/2019)

US Coast Guard Conducts South Pacific Fisheries Patrols in Coordination with Canada
(The Diplomat, 2/20/2019)
JOB BOARD
EVENT CALENDAR
*FishChoice will be attending these events
FishChoice.com
FishChoice, Inc. (FCI) is a registered 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit founded in 2008 that is dedicated to helping businesses advance their seafood sustainability efforts on their own. FishChoice creates solutions that accelerate sustainability in the global seafood industry. Our vision is a thriving and sustainable global seafood industry. FishChoice current operates the flagship platform FishChoice.com (established 2009) and FisheryProgress.org (established 2016). 
Copyright © 2018 FishChoice, Inc., All rights reserved.
FishChoice, Inc. | P.O. Box 531 | Fort Collins, CO, 80522


Click here to unsubscribe