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Search On March 18th, Sonja Schmid, the CGF’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative Manager spoke on a panel at the Seafood Expo North America in Boston. The 2019 conference program featured over 25 educational sessions, presented by key industry experts. Attendees took away engaging and practical information covering the most important and timely issues relevant to today’s seafood business environment. The event is North America’s largest seafood exhibition, attracting thousands of buyers and suppliers from around the world.
Sonja spoke alongside industry colleagues, Herman Wisse, Managing Director of The Global Seafood Initiative (GSSI), Hugo Byrnes is the Vice President Product Integrity for Ahold Delhaize and co-chair of the SSCI Steering Committee, Darian McBain, Global Director of Sustainable Development, Thai Union and Joe Zelasney, Fishery Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization. During the panel entitled “Social Sustainability in Fisheries Value Chains”, speakers discussed the importance of advancing social compliance in the seafood industry. Following an introduction to the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative, Sonja provided an overview of the collaboration between GSSI and SSCI to develop a seafood-specific social compliance benchmark. Joe gave an update on the FAO process to develop guidance on social responsibility in seafood value chains at governmental level. The importance of aligning these processes was stressed – whilst making sure that the industry moves at pace to develop a social compliance benchmark for voluntary seafood standards.
