13/07/2020
13 July 2020, BANGKOK – Thai Union Group has welcomed the latest rating for Thailand farmed shrimp from Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch®, which shows the country’s positive progress to reach a Yellow Good Alternative rating.
Shrimp farming methods in Thailand have improved since Seafood Watch last assessed Thai farmed shrimp, prompting the change in rating from Red to Yellow. Today Thai farmers manage their water quality more effectively and, in response to disease challenges, have reduced their water exchange with the environment.
The Seafood Watch report illustrates that there have been improvements in the sustainability of feed ingredients but notes that there is continued effort needed to make Thai fisheries more sustainable. For Thailand to reach the coveted Best Choice rating, the report indicates that local implementation and enforcement of laws, ranging from farm effluent to fishery management, need to continue to improve, in line with science and best practice.
Dr. Darian McBain, Global Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Thai Union said the company continues to work with partners including the Royal Thai Government to help move shrimp from Thailand towards a Best Choice rating.
Thai Union is also collaborating with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) to increase the number of certified shrimp farms in Thailand.
“At Thai Union, we take our commitment to sustainable seafood incredibly seriously,” McBain said. “We are proud to be a global leader in seafood sustainability and we are continually exploring how we can ensure that the products we deliver to our customers around the world are being responsibily sourced. This is part of Thai Union’s commitment to Healthy Living, Healthy Oceans.”
Thai Union is the number one shrimp exporter in Thailand. The U.S. and Japan are the two biggest markets for Thai shrimp.
The Seafood Watch report can be read here
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About Thai Union Group
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 one of the world’s leading seafood producers and is the largest producer of shelf-stable tuna products with annual sales exceeding THB 126.3 billion (US$ 4.1 billion) and a global workforce of over 44,000 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. Find out more at seachangesustainability.org. Thai Union’s on-going work on sustainability issues was recognized in 2018 and 2019 by being ranked number one in the world in the Food Products Industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, achieving a 100th percentile ranking for total sustainability score. Thai Union has now been named to the DJSI for six consecutive years. Thai Union was also named to the FTSE4Good Emerging Index for the fourth straight year in 2019.
Media Contacts
Thai Union Group PCL.
Leigh Murray
Strategic Communications
T +61.473.658.807 leigh.murray@thaiunion.com