(Photo courtesy of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.)
Funded Project Updates
It's an exciting time of year as two Sea Pact grantees recently completed their projects and shared their outcomes and lessons learned:
- Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI): "Assessing Fisheries Habitat Value of Aquaculture Farms in the Gulf of Maine." Aquaculture plays a vital role in creating a diverse and resilient marine economy, yet it often grapples with challenges related to "social license" or the general community support needed for successful operations, facing resistance related to environmental concerns, competition from other marine resource users, and NIMBY-ism. In response to this challenge, GMRI's project sought to assess wild fish species habitat value of aquaculture infrastructure by combining environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis with underwater video footage collected from aquaculture sites. The GMRI research team gathered compelling evidence demonstrating that mussel rafts and other structures can provide critical summer habitat for eight wild species, including alewife, American eel, Atlantic menhaden, herring, mummichog, cunner, rock gunnel, and winter flounder. Their findings highlight potential positive impacts of aquaculture on local biodiversity while serving to further community support for aquaculture operations. Additionally, the project made strides in the application and validation of eDNA in open water systems, which has the potential to determine the historical presence of various species in specific areas and enhance understanding of species distribution and abundance in marine environments. GMRI's research has advanced scientific understanding of aquaculture site habitats while providing the aquaculture industry with preliminary data and tools to engage with communities and enhance its social license. Visit the project's profile page on the Sea Pact website to learn more.
- Seafood and Fisheries Emerging Technologies (SAFET): SAFET's mission is to ensure relevant emerging technology is accessible to seafood and fisheries stakeholders, to enable sustainable use of marine resources. SAFET's Sea Pact grant focused on connecting technology providers with users to address their specific needs, particularly by accelerating the adoption of electronic monitoring (EM) systems in fisheries, especially in developing regions. To do so, SAFET hosted a conference in Bali, Indonesia in 2023. The conference brought together over 200 stakeholders, including fishers, regulators, NGOs, technology providers, and others to discuss and learn about topics that included innovations in EM and electronic reporting, building resilience in coastal communities, and enabling emerging technologies. SAFET also established the Electronic Monitoring Community: Asia-Pacific (EMCAP) virtual platform to facilitates knowledge sharing and practical solutions for integrating EM systems into fisheries management in the Asia-Pacific region. Finally, SAFET launched a new platform last month called FISH-TECH-CONNECT to enhance broader stakeholder engagement through discussions, webinars, and resource sharing related to emerging technologies in fisheries and seafood. Key takeaways from SAFET's efforts highlight the importance of collaboration and communication in addressing industry challenges, promoting technology development, and ensuring user-driven solutions for successful implementation and impact. Learn more about the SAFET's project here and be sure to join SAFET's FISH-TECH-CONNECT platform to access helpful resources.
"These initiatives are great examples of Sea Pact-funded projects that align well with two of our current strategic priorities, supporting responsible aquaculture production and innovations in North America, and sector-based sustainability improvements in priority wild fisheries. We are thrilled to be able to share these outcomes publicly with other stakeholders" said Sam Grimley, Sea Pact's Executive Director. Be sure to check out the Sea Pact website for additional details on these and other projects supported by Sea Pact, and to learn more about upcoming Sea Pact funding opportunities.
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Traceability Sessions
Traceability adoption is now critical for seafood companies meeting traceability market demands and regulatory requirements, while mitigating sourcing risks. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 204 requires all U.S. seafood companies to implement stricter tracking and tracing systems for their products by 2026. Meeting FSMA compliance has been a significant focus for industry this year. Sea Pact members recognized the value of collaboration in addressing the challenges and sharing solutions related to traceability adoption, and in response have been holding bi-monthly traceability sessions. These meetings, chaired by Stephanie Pazzaglia from J.J. McDonnell, provide participating members with a platform to discuss traceability challenges they currently face as well as share solutions and best practices on a variety of topics, including systems implementation, supply chain engagement, and FSMA compliance. "Our traceability group has proven vital for exchanging best practices, gaining insights into the traceability challenges and solutions faced by other Sea Pact companies, and exploring the various traceability platforms utilized to manage and transfer data." said Stephanie Pazzaglia.
Additionally, the sessions have provided an opportunity to welcome Sea Pact members' employees, including technical experts, that have not traditionally engaged in Sea Pact efforts. "Most of the time we [seafood companies] are working in our own siloes to address issues that impact the entire industry. Having a collaborative forum to discuss the technical challenges of implementing full-chain traceability for Acme's seafood supply chain has been invaluable. The Sea Pact traceability sessions have allowed us to identify gaps, share expertise, and vent about the arduous process!” noted Alexandra Golub, Sea Pact’s board vice chair, representing Acme Smoked Fish.
One of the greatest challenges the group has identified is the lack of awareness of FSMA requirements by segments of the supply chain, particularly at the producer level, as well as local regulators. "As mid-supply chain companies, the expectation is to receive information, including Key Data Elements (KDEs), from the first mile of the supply chain and relay outbound information to our customers [foodservice/retailers]. While we’ve been actively working to educate our suppliers, there is a pressing need for increased awareness and education from the Food and Drug Administration. This will ensure that all stakeholders in the supply chain—both domestically and internationally—are informed and prepared for the upcoming rule, ultimately minimizing disruptions." added Stephanie Pazzaglia.
This collective engagement approach serves to strengthen individual members' businesses while proving essential to navigating the complexities of traceability adoption and FSMA requirements.
Be sure to join the Seafood2030 Forum Traceability Adoption in Seafood: Planning for the Future on November 13, 2024 where Sea Pact staff and Sea Pact member Fortune Fish & Gourmet will moderate the two virtual panels.
Contact Sam Grimley to learn more about Sea Pact's traceability sessions and the value of Sea Pact membership.
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(Photo courtesy of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions)
Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions Annual Conference 2024 Recap
Earlier this month, Sea Pact staff joined 120 other stakeholders at the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions Annual Conference 2024 in Cancun, Mexico. This was a great opportunity for Sea Pact to learn from a number of different organizations working in various parts of the world on a variety of sustainability issues. Sea Pact's highlights from the four-day conference include:
- Connecting with the Conservation Alliance's team to learn more about the new strategic direction of the organization.
- Hearing from local harvester's co-operatives about their ongoing efforts to address sustainability issues throughout the region.
- Reconnecting with Seafood Legacy to exchange experiences and learnings from engaging industry in pre-competitive sustainability efforts.
- Hearing from philanthropic foundations and other funders on the future of funding for ocean conservation and sustainability initiatives.
- Meeting with Community Catch (current Sea Pact grantee) to get an update on their small-scale fisheries efforts and explore ways that Sea Pact members can further support their project.
- Learning about AI applications in fisheries and aquaculture from BalanceBlue Lab at the New England Aquarium, as well as approaches to animal welfare in seafood production from the Aquatic Life Institute.
- Spending time with Wholechain to learn more about their work with the United Nations Global Compact to advance Sustainable Development Goals.
- Attending the Celebration of Women in Seafood reception and hearing updates from Seafood and Gender Equality on their latest initiatives.
The greatest value to Sea Pact from the conference was reconnecting in-person with seasoned colleagues, while forging relationships with new people to learn about their work while sharing updates on our own experiences. Thanks again to the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions for a great event!
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