RESPONSIBLE SOURCING

High Liner Foods began our responsible sourcing journey over a decade ago and we have made steady gains since that time, working toward a goal of delivering products that are 100% responsibly sourced.

Today, under the leadership of Ron van der Giesen, Chief Supply Chain Officer, our commitment to social and environmental responsibility is exerting an even stronger influence on our strategy, logistics and operations. We use strict criteria to define responsibly sourced seafood, relying on certification schemes that earn approval from respected NGOs and industry experts. We also use social compliance audits and measure ourselves against the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) benchmark.

Wild-caught seafood. Responsibly fished wild-caught seafood is legally caught, secure from poaching and protected from overfishing. We require our suppliers to demonstrate that they minimize damage to fish habitats and use effective strategies to avoid bycatch. We source wild-caught products that are:

  • MSC certified or from suppliers undergoing full MSC assessment;
  • Recognized by the GSSI benchmark;
  • From credible, publicly documented Fishery Improvement Projects; or
  • OceanWise™-recommended or rated Best Choice or Good Alternative by Seafood Watch™.

Farmed seafood. Experts increasingly agree that responsible, sustainable aquaculture is essential to meet the world’s growing demand for seafood. In addition to disclosing the sources of our farmed seafood through the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership’s Ocean Disclosure Project, we source farmed products that are:

  • Recognized by the GSSI benchmark;
  • Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified or from suppliers undergoing full ASC assessment;
  • Global Aquaculture Alliance Best Aquaculture Practices certified (1–4 stars);
  • From credible, publicly documented Aquaculture Improvement Projects;
  • OceanWise™-recommended or rated Best Choice or Good Alternative by Seafood Watch™.

Of the seafood we sold in 2021, by weight:

76%
was wild-caught
24%
was farmed