12/03/2018
12 MARCH 2018, BOSTON — Thai Union Group PCL, one of the world’s largest seafood companies, has joined forces with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) in a drive to reduce the growing problem of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) worldwide.
The GGGI is an alliance founded by World Animal Protection in 2015, dedicated to tackling the problem of ghost fishing gear at a global scale. The GGGI’s strength lies in the diversity of its participants including the fishing industry, the private sector, academia, governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. Every participant has a critical role to play to mitigate ghost gear locally, regionally and globally.
Thai Union’s participation in the GGGI reflects its commitment to combat marine plastic pollution, in line with SeaChange®, the company’s sustainability strategy to drive meaningful improvements across the entire global seafood industry.
“Ghost gear represents one of the biggest threats to animals in our oceans, significantly reducing fish stocks and entangling, injuring and killing millions of animals every year,” said Joel Baziuk, Secretariat for the Global Ghost Gear Initiative. “It is key for seafood industry leaders such as Thai Union to come together with NGOs, government and other stakeholders to improve the health of marine ecosystems, protect marine animals and safeguard human health and livelihoods.”
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that every year, approximately 8 million tons of plastic enters the ocean, most of it urban waste, particularly plastic litter and microplastics.
Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear, or ‘ghost gear’ as it is also known, accounts for at least 10 percent of this total waste, and causes considerable ecological and socioeconomic problems. It washes up on beaches, severely impacts reef environments, poses a threat to navigation, negatively affects global fish stock levels, harms marine animals and is a significant cause of loss of other fishing gear in use.
As a user of primarily recyclable packaging, in the form of steel and aluminum cans and paper outer cardboard, Thai Union assessed its greatest impact to address marine plastic pollution is through supporting work to reduce ALDFG, according to Dr. Darian McBain, Thai Union’s global director for sustainable development.
“Research indicates that 70 percent of floating microplastics debris in the open ocean is fishing-related,” said McBain. “Reducing abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear is key to ensuring the seas are sustainable now and for future generations. It has obvious impacts on global food security and the seafood supply chain, as well as an impact on the livelihoods of coastal communities.”
The issue of marine plastic pollution also impacts all three of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Thai Union has committed to focus on: Zero Hunger, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Life Below Water. Proving it is not only a material issue to Thai Union’s stakeholders but also to the company, which is contributing in areas where it can have direct influence.
“Thai Union is keystone actor in the seafood industry, and with huge international influence comes a degree of social and environmental responsibility. We are very much looking forward to working together to drive economically viable, sustainable solutions toward safer, cleaner oceans,” said Baziuk.
Notes to editors
ABOUT THAI UNION
Thai Union Group PCL is the world’s seafood leader bringing high quality, healthy, tasty and innovative seafood products to customers across the world for more than 40 years.
Today, Thai Union is regarded as the world’s largest producer of shelf-stable tuna products with annual sales exceeding THB 135 billion (US$ 4.030 billion) and a global workforce of over 49,000 people who are dedicated to pioneering sustainable, innovative seafood products.
The company’s global brand portfolio includes market-leading international brands such as Chicken of the Sea, John West, Petit Navire, Parmentier, Mareblu, King Oscar, and Rügen Fisch and Thai-leading brands SEALECT, Fisho, Qfresh, Monori, Bellotta and Marvo.
As a company committed to innovation and globally responsible behavior, Thai Union is proud to be a member of the United Nations Global Compact, and a founding member of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). In 2015, Thai Union introduced its SeaChange® sustainability strategy. Thai Union’s on-going work on sustainability issues was recognized by its inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index Emerging Markets (DJSI) in 2014. In 2017, Thai Union was named to the DJSI for the fourth consecutive year. Thai Union is also part of the FTSE4Good Emerging Index.
ABOUT GLOBAL GHOST GEAR INITIATIVE (GGGI)
The GGGI aims to improve the health of marine ecosystems, protect marine animals, and safeguard human health and livelihoods.
Launched in September 2015 the GGGI is the first initiative dedicated to tackling the problem of ghost fishing gear at a global scale. The GGGI’s strength lies in the diversity of its participants including the fishing industry, the private sector, academia, governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. Every participant has a critical role to play to mitigate ghost gear locally, regionally and globally. More information can be found at: https://www.ghostgear.org
ABOUT WORLD ANIMAL PROTECTION
World Animal Protection (formerly known as the World Society for the Protection of Animals) has moved the world to protect animals for the last 50 years. World Animal Protection works to give animals a better life. Its activities include working with companies to ensure high standards of welfare for the animals in their care, working with governments and other stakeholders to prevent wild animals being cruelly traded, trapped or killed, and saving the lives of animals and the livelihoods of the people who depend on them in disaster situations.
World Animal Protection influences decision makers to put animals on the global agenda, and it inspires people to protect animals and to change animals’ lives for the better.
More information on World Animal Protection can be found at:
MEDIA CONTACTS
Thai Union
North America
Craig Rexroad
North America Director of Communications
M: +1.858.699.9063
E: Craig.Rexroad@thaiunion.com
Asia/Global
Christopher Hughes
Global Head of Sustainability and Innovation Communications
M: +66.6.2594.1089
E: Christopher.Hughes@thaiunion.com
World Animal Protection
Kai Akram
World Animal Protection
M: +1 646 460 5807