Committed to sustainability

What are sustainable seafood products?

Sustainable seafood products are fish and shellfish caught by fishermen for human consumption, under the monitoring of sustainable fishing systems which regulate the stock of fish and shellfish along with the ecosystem that supports them. Demand for seafood is growing rapidly and supplies from wild capture fisheries have remained constant for 20 years; The ocean has given us what it could. Consequently, the future of sustainable seafood must include the cultivation and controlled wild capture of fish and shellfish. Based on the above, at Geomar we produce from both sources.

Is your fishing harmful to the environment?

Geomar only purchases seafood that comes from Chilean fishermen who operate small vessels in national waters. Fishermen catch fish and shellfish with certain equipment that is not harmful to the environment; including traps, nets, spinels and also by diving. Fishing methods and operations vary depending on the species and the area in which they are caught. For example, a fisherman can set traps on the seabed to extract crabs or dive to manually extract crabs. Whatever the method, artisanal capture in Chile is scientifically monitored and supervised regionally under international standards by the National Fisheries Service. Catches are supervised under scientifically based management plans developed by authorities, using the best scientific information available based on stock assessment. By law, Chilean seafood must be caught according to fishery management plans that prevent predation; respecting the bans on protected products and identifying and preserving the habitat of marine fauna.

How does Geomar contribute to sustainable fishing?

When we talk about sustainability, for us it is not enough to work on having a stock of healthy fish and seafood, thus only reducing our impact on the planet. We believe that it is also necessary; educate and promote responsible capture in artisanal fishing communities.

How does Geomar contribute to the fishing community?

We actively work with more than 400 fishermen in Chile, involving communities of approximately 1,600 people, helping them improve their quality of life and develop their capacities for a correct sustainable approach. Our commitment to the fishing community is also focused on ensuring fair trade practices at all levels of the supply chain. The FAIR TRADE USA certification gives consumers confidence that each purchase of a Geomar product has a real positive impact on the lives of our fishermen and workers.

For more information about Fair Trade certification visit www.fairtradecertified.org