Bumble Bee’s primary business is in seafood. We support global policies and management initiatives that ensure the long-term sustainability of these resources.
For more than one hundred years, we’ve set the standard in quality seafood. And as an industry leader, Bumble Bee is also committed to leading the way in preserving the world’s aquatic resources for future generations.
No single aspect is more important, or more central, to Bumble Bee’s sustainability program than ensuring the responsible harvesting and management of fisheries from which we source—this is not only important to the environment and our consumers, but for our business as well. Our corporate sustainability platform adopted in 2005 has become a key focal point driving internal behavior and how we conduct business across the globe.
Our Scientific Approach
Science is at the core of our approach to fisheries management and independent, science-based assessments of stocks are a key component in ensuring the sourcing of sustainable seafood. We have engaged third party experts to assess our various fisheries to determine if they are being managed in a sustainable manner. Our assessments are based on the latest scientific stock assessments completed by various national and international research bodies and they encompass a number of criteria including:
- Assessment of the target stock status.
- Assessment of the impact on non-target stocks and related eco-systems.
- Review of on-going fisheries management platforms currently in place.
- Review of enforcement practices and compliance measures.
- Development of recommendations to improve fishery management practices.
Our grading process for these assessments aligns with United Nations guidelines and takes into account the above criteria.
Bumble Bee ceases participation in fisheries where overfishing is occurring and the fishery is overfished and management actions are not in place to return the fishery to a sustainable state.
Third Party Assessments
Independent, science-based assessments of stocks are critical to ensuring the sourcing of sustainable seafood.
We have completed sustainability assessments of the four main fisheries (tuna, salmon, sardines and clams) that make up the largest percentage of the shelf stable seafood we sell domestically and we will complete assessments for other fisheries in which we participate in the next several years.
See Bumble Bee Fisheries Assessment Reports
Sustainability Leadership
In addition to our internal efforts, Bumble Bee actively participates in a broad range of fishery management organizations. These organizations include the four Regional Fishing Management Organizations (RFMO’s) for tuna, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, National Fisheries Institute Tuna Council, and the Fishery Council of Canada. Bumble Bee is also a Food Marketing Institute Sustainable Seafood Supplier Council member.
Bumble Bee is also proud to be a founder of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) . The ISSF, formed in March, 2009, is a global partnership among scientists, tuna processors representing more than 50% of the world’s shelf stable tuna production, and WWF, the global conservation organization.
ISSF mission: Undertake science-based initiatives for the long term sustainability of tuna stocks, reduction of by-catch and promotion of ecosystem health, largely by supporting the conservation recommendations of tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO) scientific committees.
The ISSF with the market power of its participants is committed to bringing about positive change in the management of tuna fisheries. In its first year of existence, ISSF participants have:
- Agreed to not purchase from vessels engaging in illegal, unreported, & unregulated fishing;
- Agreed to trace-ability standards for “capture to plate” tracking;
- Provided RFMO’s access to fishing data;
- Positively influenced conservation measures for eastern Pacific Bigeye;
- Pledged funds for Sea Turtle conservation in long line fishing;
- Urged the Atlantic RFMO to enact conservation measures for North Atlantic albacore and to perform stock assessments of Mediterranean albacore
For more information about ISSF and their proactive initiatives, please visit www.iss-foundation.org and/or download this presentation.
Also, additional information regarding Alaska’s approach to seafood sustainability can be found at http://www.alaskaseafood.org/sustainability/ – Alaska is a major source of our salmon. The Alaska salmon fishery is Marine Stewardship Council certified and the fishery was in 2011 awarded the independent, third-party Responsible Fisheries Management Certification.
Bumble Bee Foods is on the forefront of tackling this important issue. Our brand is one of the oldest seafood brands in North America, having been established in 1899. We are confident that our leadership and our actions will ensure the long term sustainability of the fisheries that we depend on.
