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Search At the Conxemar International Congress, held on 6 October 2025 in Vigo, Spain, 26,000+ industry leaders from across the seafood sector gathered to debate the future of sustainable growth in a complex global market. The event convened policymakers, retailers, producers, and civil society organisations to address the pressing challenges of climate impact, overfishing, and social responsibility in seafood supply chains.
Representing The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), Luiza Reguse, Senior Manager, Sustainability, took part in the panel “Future Approaches and Growth Strategies” to share how the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) is driving worldwide standards for trust and transparency in certification schemes across the seafood industry.
From the panel in Vigo
In her intervention, Reguse highlighted how SSCI benchmarks are reshaping the way businesses assess and recognise sustainability standards. She stressed that credibility and alignment are essential for lasting impact:
“Seafood is one of the most complex supply chains in the world. No single business can navigate it alone. SSCI is giving companies the tools to cut through fragmentation, recognise trusted schemes, and scale meaningful change across the industry.”
Other panellists stressed the need for collective action between business, certification bodies, and regulators. The discussion focused on building harmonised benchmarks, stronger cross-border collaboration, and a shared commitment to protect both marine resources and workers’ rights.
Why it matters for seafood
The seafood sector plays a critical role in global food security and livelihoods, but it is also exposed to high risks of environmental degradation and human rights risks. For companies sourcing seafood, fragmented certification schemes have created confusion, duplication, and uneven standards.
By aligning credible standards through its benchmarking process, SSCI helps companies source seafood responsibly, reduce audit fatigue, and focus investment on continuous improvement. The initiative, part of the CGF’s wider efforts on sustainability and human rights, enables business leaders to meet growing regulatory demands while building long-term resilience in their supply chains.
Europe’s role in shaping the future
Spain, as the host of Conxemar, stands at the centre of the global seafood trade. With the EU advancing due diligence requirements and market expectations rising, the Congress, supported by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), offered a timely stage for the CGF to underline the strategic value of SSCI for European retailers and global suppliers alike.
The panel reinforced a clear message: seafood sustainability requires global trust in credible standards, built on robust benchmarking and shared accountability.
The CGF invites industry leaders to explore how the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative can support their businesses in navigating this complex landscape.
Learn more about SSCI and its work on seafood and beyond at Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative
