How can seafood retailers and suppliers work together to ensure the highest standards of quality and integrity from catch or farm to the consumer’s plate? This panel brings together leaders in sustainable sourcing and retail to explore the evolving expectations around compliance, certification, and transparency in today’s seafood marketplace.
Consumer demand for responsibly sourced seafood continues to grow within natural and specialty retail. According to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), 72 percent of consumers prefer sustainably sourced seafood, even if it costs more. Additionally, a 2024 MSC consumer insights study revealed that 48 percent were concerned about overfishing, and 67 percent wanted to protect the ocean. Notably, 27 percent said they’d eat more seafood if they knew it wasn’t harming the ocean.
The panel will share actionable strategies to build consumer trust through third party certifications, robust aquaculture standards that safeguard the environmental and animal welfare, and advanced traceability systems that ensure authenticity across the supply chain. Discussion will also explore how retailers are strengthening supply chains to tackle industry-specific challenges, such as human rights in fishing operations, while driving store-level compliance.
The session will highlight scalable best practices for preventing ecosystem degradation, monitoring water quality, eliminating prohibited substances, and advancing selective catch methods. Attendees will gain practical insights into collaborative solutions that raise the bar on seafood quality, enhance transparency, and secure the future of sustainable sourcing
