Whole Foods to stop selling over-fished seafood
Whole Foods Market Inc. (Nasdaq: WFMI) is phasing out seafood considered over-fished or unsustainably-caught.
The move is part of the Austin-based natural grocer's efforts to better inform customers about fish and shellfish sources. In partnership with the Blue Ocean Institute and Monterey Bay Aquarium, the company has adopted an in-store, color-coded sustainability rating system for wild-caught seafood. Whole Foods has also committed to phasing out all red-rated species by Earth Day 2013, including swordfish, Atlantic cod, sole and tuna, among others.
Seafood color-coded green, or "best choice," indicates the fish is part of an abundant population and is fished in an environmentally-friendly way. A yellow-coded offering means a "good alternative," or having some concerns about population or fishing methods. The red, "avoid" category signals the species is suffering from overfishing, or that current fishing methods harm other marine life or habitats.
The new initiative expands on a sustainable seafood program Whole Foods Market launched with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in 1999. The new ratings only apply to non-MSC-certified fish.
"Our customers, buyers, fishermen and fishery managers can all make smart decisions that move us in the direction of greater seafood sustainability," said Carrie Brownstein, Whole Foods Market seafood quality standards coordinator. "The new color-coded rating system is a transparent way to provide sustainability status information."
Read the full story in the Austin Business Journal.
Comments
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.