As Publix celebrates National Seafood Month this year, the company also marks a donation milestone to Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP).
Publix is entering its 15th year of working with the nonprofit as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. SFP’s mission is to protect ocean systems, rebuild fish populations and support commercial fishers who fish for their livelihoods.
“Publix is proud to support SFP to bring sustainable seafood options to our customers while protecting the ecosystem and supporting those who fish,” said Publix Business Development Director of Seafood Guy Pizzuti. “We look forward to our continued collaboration to make a difference in seafood sustainability.”
Since 2011, Publix has donated more than $1 million to SFP. The company’s most recent donations totaled more than $350,000 and support efforts to reduce unintended catch of ocean wildlife in the seafood sourcing supply chain.
Unintended catch, referred to in the seafood industry as bycatch, occurs when commercial fishers accidentally catch nontarget species while fishing, which is a contributor to population decline in endangered, threatened and protected species. Affected populations include whales, sharks, dolphins, turtles and seabirds.
By providing funding for high-tech gear and training, Publix can help commercial seafood suppliers minimize their impact on the ocean ecosystems.
Electronic monitoring equipment in the Florida pink shrimp fishery
Publix is funding a project through SFP to study interactions with the endangered smalltooth sawfish in the Florida pink shrimp fishery supply chain. The project involves installing cameras and monitoring equipment on eight boats in this fishery to help identify potential contact with this endangered sawfish species.
Smart buoys in the Maine lobster and Canadian snow crab fisheries
Publix’s donation also supports two projects focused on eliminating ghost gear within the company’s lobster and snow crab fishery supply chain. Ghost gear is abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear that can be harmful to marine life, such as the endangered North Atlantic right whale, and can negatively impact marine habitats. Smart buoys are GPS tracking devices that attach to existing fishing gear to monitor its location and movement in real time, guaranteeing that it can be retrieved to avoid harming marine life or damaging habitats.
Addressing bycatch in the Eastern Pacific Ocean mahi-mahi fishery
The company’s most recent donation to SFP, together with the Global Mahi Supply Chain Roundtable, supports sustainable fishing practices and bycatch reduction of endangered, threatened and protected species in the Eastern Pacific Ocean mahi-mahi fishery. This effort helps to empower fishers with training, practical tools and recognition to support the long-term health of the fishery and reduce or prevent bycatch.
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