The seafood industry heavyweights behind SeaBOS are sharing their visions and ambitions for the future of the seafood industry, and for the current chair of SeaBOS, Therese Log Bergjord, the effects of the initiative’s work will soon be visible.
SeaBOS brings together the CEOs of a group of the world’s largest seafood producers, who are determined to bring about much-needed change.
SeaBOS chair and Skretting CEO Therese Log Bergjord commented that big ships take time to turn. Getting ten of the largest companies in the seafood industry to change their direction is inevitably a process that’s going to take time, requiring substantial changes to internal processes and supply chains alike.
‘Skretting is no exception,’ she said.
A global leader in providing nutritional solutions and services for the aquaculture industry, Skretting has production facilities in 19 countries on five continents, and manufactures and delivers high quality feeds from hatching to harvest for more than 60 species. The total annual production volume of feed is more than 2 million tonnes.
‘But once the direction has been set, there is no going back. For me, SeaBOS is a critical step in our sustainable seafood future,’ she said.
‘There is no question. As leaders of industry, we have a responsibility to make a positive impact. We cannot do it alone, and we don’t. As industry, we must seek inputs based on science, and then – and this is the critical step – we must act.’
She has been chair of SeaBOS since 2020 and said that when the opportunity arose, there was never any doubt in joining.
‘SeaBOS represents a paradigm shift for seafood. We have changed the way that we even considered working together towards common goals in the past. This has been essential because the challenges that we can address as a whole are real, they are tangible, and they are meaningful,’ she said.
From ensuring that there are no illegal, unreported or unregulated products or raw materials associated to forced labour in SeaBOS members’ supply chains, to minimising the impacts of sustainable seafood production on the climate and endangered species, the Task Forces of SeaBOS are driving change, and involve members from both companies and scientific institutions.
SeaBOS came into being at the first UN Ocean Conference in 2017, as a unique collaboration between science and ten of the largest seafood companies in the world, with a mission to lead a global transformation for sustainable seafood production and a healthy ocean.
Five years’ later, at the current UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon, SeaBOS is launching its first progress report launch to present progress made, challenges faced, and opportunities identified.
This takes place on 29th June at the UN Oceans Conference, where SeaBOS will present its much-anticipated progress report after five years of collaboration with partners in science and business, and presenting progress made, challenges faced, and opportunities identified. During the launch SeaBOS members will also discuss the role of sustainable seafood in helping to ensure food security, address climate change and support ocean health – and the role of science-industry collaboration in making this happen.
‘The impact is coming, and it has been years in the making. There is no doubt that we, as the companies of SeaBOS, are big ships to turn. But we are indeed turning,’ Therese Log Bergjord said.
‘When ten of the largest companies come together with science to step up on ocean stewardship, things will happen. Within SeaBOS we have global reach, and decisions based on science. Transparency and trust are paramount to the success of SeaBOS, and that is truly unique.’
