SEA DELIGHT'S SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD POLICY

Sea Delight is committed to ensuring seafood remains a secure resource for future generations to enjoy. We use our buying power and position in the seafood industry to employ and promote responsible practices globally. Our own principles, including strategic sourcing and research, leverage positive change in our suppliers and customers.

Our informed choices are strengthened by establishing transparency in our supply chains and collecting data so we can eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) seafood from our supply. We educate our employees, suppliers, and customers with this information to create a more conscious industry.

We extend our commitment beyond our own practices and across commercial, governmental, and civil sectors. We engage in advocacy, education, and direct investment through the funding of and participation in fishery improvement projects (FIPS). These FIPs improve the environmental, economic, and social aspects of fisheries and communities across the world.

Our Sustainable Seafood Policy is the foundation for Sea Delight’s future business and will send a ripple of positive change through the seafood industry. The following outlines how this policy is put into action:

Sourcing Strategy

Environmentally responsible seafood is fished or farmed in a way that safeguards future seafood supplies while minimizing impacts on surrounding ecosystems. Sea Delight preferentially sources and sells environmentally responsible seafood and aims to increase the percentage of products offered from fisheries and farms that improve environmental performance over time. Sea Delight relies on the following to assess seafood purchases:

1. Sustainability ratings of credible independent bodies such as Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise, and SeaChoice
2. Eco-certifications such as Marine Stewardship Council, Global Aquaculture Alliance –Best Aquaculture Practices, and Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Sea Delight does not require products be eco-certified, but requires products to meet Sea Delight criteria for food safety and quality. If eco-certifications are available, all relevant certification information will be documented. Sea Delight also preferentially sources products from FIPs that meet the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solution’s FIP guidelines when available.

Data Collection, Assessment, and Reporting

Sea Delight works closely with suppliers to collect detailed information needed to assess the sustainability of seafood products procured and sold by the company. Specific information collected includes, but is not limited to:

1. Common and scientific names
2. Country of origin, FAO fishing area, and region of catch
3. Wild or farmed designation
4. Fishing gears or aquaculture production methods used
5. Producers and/or processors
6. Volume of product purchased
7. Eco-certification (MSC, BAP, ASC, etc.)
8. Supporting documentation for fishery improvement projects (e.g. workplan, timeline, budget, progress report, etc.)

Sea Delight has chosen to partner with FishWise, a non-profit sustainable seafood consultancy, to assess and monitor these data and to create an evaluation framework to track milestones and impacts over time. This analysis will identify species/products suitable for targeted improvement and/or promotion.

Sea Delight is committed to providing customers with credible sustainability information regarding its seafood products and to provide a summary of the company’s sustainability progress annually. Furthermore, Sea Delight continuously improves company systems to trace seafood back to its harvest location and to ensure the legality of seafood product.

Fisheries Improvement

Sea Delight is committed to supporting and improving its source fisheries through a variety of actions, including:

1. Creation of FIPs for source fisheries
2. Direct implementation of FIP activities
3. Financial contribution to FIPs
4. Employing on-the-ground staff to coordinate FIP activities
5. Working with Sea Delight suppliers to improve fishery practices and overall fishery performance

Reform and Advocacy

Sea Delight believes that making internal improvements to its supply chains are an effective way to generate reform within the seafood industry. Improvement areas include data collection, traceability systems, reporting, and supplier engagement. Whenever possible, Sea Delight will advocate for legitimate efforts to strengthen fisheries policy and management to improve environmental outcomes in source fisheries and beyond.

Education

Sea Delight trains employees on seafood sustainability and fishery improvement efforts so staff may confidently assist customers in selecting environmentally responsible seafood. Sea Delight is committed to working with suppliers in its supply chain to improve fishing practices through trainings, workshops, and educational materials. Sea Delight increases public and industry awareness about seafood sustainability by hosting events through the Sea Delight Ocean Fund.

Sea Delight Ocean Fund

The Sea Delight Ocean Fund (SDOF) was created in 2012 to further Sea Delight’s commitment to seafood sustainability and the well-being of fishermen in its supply chain. SDOF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization through which Sea Delight manages funding for its various seafood sustainability projects. The SDOC generates funding through a billback model that collects $0.01 per pound of seafood imported into the U.S. and Canada by Sea Delight, LLC and Sea Delight International, SL. The SDOF then allocates funds to each of its sustainability efforts, based upon the scope of work and level of company participation.

Partnership

Sea Delight actively engages all stakeholders to improve the sustainability of its seafood supply. Sea Delight partners with multiple NGOs to address different aspects of seafood sustainability. Sea Delight currently partners with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and CeDePesca to work on-the-ground with suppliers for the improvement of source fisheries. Sea Delight also partners with FishWise to assist with data collection, assessment, and communication of the company’s fisheries improvement work.

Measurable Goals

1. Sea Delight (U.S. and Canada) will source 60% of its wild seafood, at minimum, from FIPs on an annual basis.
2. Sea Delight and the Sea Delight Ocean Fund will publicly support a minimum of 3 reform and advocacy activities on an annual basis.
3. Sea Delight will provide a publicly available summary of the company’s sustainability progress on an annual basis.