High Liner announces sustainable seafood plan

High Liner Foods Inc. is the latest fish industry player to announce that it is instituting a sustainable seafood policy.

Lunenburg, N.S.-based High Liner said that it will source all its seafood from certified sustainable or responsible fisheries and aquaculture farms by the end of 2013.

High Liner is working with several third-party organizations to certify its policies, including the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the Global Aquaculture Alliance's (GAA) Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).

But High Liner added that it will still accept seafood from suppliers who are not certified, but that those suppliers will need to "be on a clear, defined path toward being sustainable and capable of documenting measurable improvements.” Such documentation will go through an organization called FishSource, or an equivalent standard, High Liner said in a statement.

"High Liner Foods is committed to our goal of doing business only with suppliers who share our vision of sourcing seafood responsibly, and with a dedication to environmental stewardship to ensure that our natural resources are available for generations to follow," said Henry Demone, president of High Liner Foods.

Led by Loblaw, most of the major grocery chains in Canada are instituting sustainable seafood policies. Most take effect in 2013. Seafood brands are doing the same. In early November, sushi maker Bento announced its policy, which kicks in at the end of 2012.