How Retailers Can Be Sustainable & Profitable in Seafood
June 26, 2024
As global awareness of environmental issues grows, the sustainability of seafood has become a significant concern. Overfishing, habitat destruction, and the environmental impacts of aquaculture are pressing challenges that need addressing to ensure the health of our oceans. This blog post delves into the importance of sustainable seafood practices, using insights from a detailed report on Carrefour, one of the world's largest food retailers, as a case study to highlight the steps and benefits of improving seafood sustainability.
The Growing Demand for Seafood
Global demand for seafood has doubled on a per capita basis since the 1960s. This surge has led to a dramatic increase in overexploited fish stocks, reaching an all-time high. While aquaculture has surpassed wild capture production, alleviating some pressure on wild fish populations, it has introduced new environmental issues such as habitat destruction, water pollution, and the spread of diseases and invasive species.
The Role of Food Retailers
Food retailers hold a powerful position in driving change toward sustainable seafood practices. By altering their sourcing decisions, retailers can significantly impact the demand for both farmed and wild-caught seafood, steering it towards more sustainable options. The Carrefour case study provides an excellent example of how retailers can engage in sustainable practices and the benefits that follow.
Carrefour's Journey Towards Sustainability
Carrefour has made substantial progress in sourcing seafood sustainably and combating illegal fishing practices. Between January 2020 and September 2021, 49% of Carrefour France's seafood purchases, in value terms, were certified by either the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for wild-caught seafood or the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) for farmed seafood. Despite this, less than 10% of the products on display in Carrefour’s supermarkets were certified, indicating a need for better consumer-facing communication and product labeling.
Key Recommendations for Retailers
Optimise Internal Systems: Ensure methods, locations, and dates of harvest are consistently tracked, along with the exact species names.
Educate Consumers and Engage Suppliers: Focus on reducing the sale of overfished species and those with deteriorating stock health. Promote species caught with selective fishing gear to lower the carbon footprint.
Switch to Sustainable Suppliers: Prioritise suppliers with lower levels of escaped fish, reduced chemical use, and higher independence from wild fisheries.
Transparent Assessment Methods: Use transparent methodologies, such as the Seafood Sustainability Protocol, rather than relying solely on certifications.
Set Traceability Targets: Implement time-bound targets to ensure a significant proportion of seafood is fully traceable.
Financial Benefits of Sustainable Practices
Improving the sustainability of seafood sourcing is not only beneficial for ocean health but also for financial performance. The report highlights that Carrefour could increase its profit margins by focusing on more sustainable species and reducing those that are overfished. Moreover, greater transparency in the seafood supply chain, such as participating in the Ocean Disclosure Project, could yield financial benefits equivalent to 3% of Carrefour’s estimated gross profit on seafood in France.
Conclusion
Sustainability in seafood is a complex but essential goal. Food retailers like Carrefour have a critical role to play in driving this change. By adopting more sustainable practices, engaging with suppliers, and educating consumers, retailers can help protect ocean ecosystems while also improving their financial performance. Sustainable seafood sourcing is not just a responsible choice but a profitable one, ensuring the long-term viability of both marine environments and the businesses that rely on them.