Comments on: Walmart & seafood: 2 very big pictures http://completesociety.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/walmart-seafood-2-very-big-pictures/ The whole picture view of a bright green future Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:39:49 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Kerry Coughlin, Marine Stewardship Council http://completesociety.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/walmart-seafood-2-very-big-pictures/#comment-3 Kerry Coughlin, Marine Stewardship Council Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:21:33 +0000 http://completesociety.wordpress.com/?p=10#comment-3 Thank you for your posting about Wal-Mart's commitment to sourcing only sustainable seafood. Wal-mart's leadership is a very important motivator for fisheries that supply Wal-mart to ensure that their practices meet the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) internationally recognized standard for sustainable, environmentally responsible fishing. However, I must correct your (or your classmate's) erroneous statement about Wal-Mart buying shrimp farms in Thailand and converting them to MSC standards. The MSC standard applies only to wild capture fisheries and we do not certify aquaculture, thus no seafood farming operations in Thailand or elsewhere are MSC-certified. Additionally, Wal-Mart's levels of seafood sales do not exceed "peak levels" that can be sustained globally. Seafood is one of the largest globally traded commodities in the world (greater than coffee, tea and cocoa combined) and Wal-Mart is just one part of that picture. Seafood, managed properly, is a sustainable resource. I encourage your readers interested in sustainable seafood to visit www.msc.org for more information, and to ask retailers and restaurants for the MSC's blue eco-label. The label assures the fish was sustainably caught and traced throughout the supply chain until purchase by the end consumer. Best, Kerry Coughlin Communications Director, Americas Marine Stewardship Council Thank you for your posting about Wal-Mart’s commitment to sourcing only sustainable seafood. Wal-mart’s leadership is a very important motivator for fisheries that supply Wal-mart to ensure that their practices meet the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) internationally recognized standard for sustainable, environmentally responsible fishing. However, I must correct your (or your classmate’s) erroneous statement about Wal-Mart buying shrimp farms in Thailand and converting them to MSC standards. The MSC standard applies only to wild capture fisheries and we do not certify aquaculture, thus no seafood farming operations in Thailand or elsewhere are MSC-certified. Additionally, Wal-Mart’s levels of seafood sales do not exceed “peak levels” that can be sustained globally. Seafood is one of the largest globally traded commodities in the world (greater than coffee, tea and cocoa combined) and Wal-Mart is just one part of that picture. Seafood, managed properly, is a sustainable resource. I encourage your readers interested in sustainable seafood to visit http://www.msc.org for more information, and to ask retailers and restaurants for the MSC’s blue eco-label. The label assures the fish was sustainably caught and traced throughout the supply chain until purchase by the end consumer.

Best,

Kerry Coughlin
Communications Director, Americas
Marine Stewardship Council

]]> By: lag2 http://completesociety.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/walmart-seafood-2-very-big-pictures/#comment-2 lag2 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:39:14 +0000 http://completesociety.wordpress.com/?p=10#comment-2 wow- interesting that Walmart can buy up nearly all the shrimp farms in Thailand. wonder how that changes the local micro-economies, and speaks to Walmart's power at the macroeconomic level as well. and how we all eat a heck of a lot of fish. (to answer your question, i am not sure what i do even works at the nano-level, of just my household.) wow- interesting that Walmart can buy up nearly all the shrimp farms in Thailand. wonder how that changes the local micro-economies, and speaks to Walmart’s power at the macroeconomic level as well.

and how we all eat a heck of a lot of fish.

(to answer your question, i am not sure what i do even works at the nano-level, of just my household.)

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