Conagra Brands’ Van de Kamp’s and Mrs. Paul’s frozen fish fillets and fish sticks packaging will start featuring the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) blue fish label this summer, indicating the wild-caught seafood has been third-party certified for sustainable fishing practices that help to protect marine habitats and maintain healthy fish population levels.
“Driving adoption of sustainably sourced seafood is key to a healthy planet,” said Lindsay Brady, The Chicago, Illinois, USA-headquartered company’s vice president and general manager. “Approximately one-third of fisheries around the world have been fished beyond sustainable limits, with another 60% fished to their maximum capacity. By sourcing MSC-certified seafood for our key frozen fish products and educating consumers on its benefits, we support responsible fishing practices and help consumers feel confident that the fish they purchase meets rigorous standards.”
The MSC standard was established in 1997 and is the only global wild caught seafood standard and ecolabeling program to meet United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) guidelines, as well as meet Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) benchmarking criteria. The standards used to evaluate fisheries have been developed in deliberation with scientists, industry, and conservation groups, and reflect the most up-to-date fisheries science and management practices.
The Marine Stewardship Council is encouraging consumers to switch to seafood certified to its rigorous ‘blue fish’ standard with its new ‘Little Blue Label, Big Blue Future’ global campaign, or #bigbluefuture on social media.
