Ocean Brands, a Vancouver, British Columbia seafood company, said in a statement released on May 20 that it will overhaul canned tuna and salmon product lines to improve its goal of environmental stewardship.
By the end of 2017, all of Ocean’s brand light and value added products will be sourced from free swimming (purse seines fishing fish aggregating device or pole and line caught tuna, said Aidan Hughes, president of Ocean Brands.
“Ocean’s is proud to take anoher important step to complete our vision of only offering our customers tuna products that are caught in ways that minimize impact on our oceans,” Hughes said. “This is a natural progression from the steps we’ve already taken to offer our customers more sustainable options.”
Back in 2012, Ocean became a founding member of the International Pole and Line Foundation and were the first national brand to introduce pole and line caught tuna to the Canadian market. Since then, the company has worked to reduce bycatch in all fisheries sourced from Hughes said.
Since 2013, all Ocean’s brand flavored tuna products were produced with free swimming caught fish and since 2015 Ocean’s brand Albacore products were sourced from either circle hook or pole and line fisheries.
Hughes also announced to source and label starting this year all ocean’s sockeye salmon from Marine Stewardship Council approved sources.
