Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
engage in this arena. With more than 7 years of experience working with large
seafood corporations to improve the environmental responsibility of seafood sup-
ply chains, the New England Aquarium's programme is one of the most mature
industry-NGO partnership programmes.
Support for the corporate seafood advisory programme is at the centre of a new
Aquarium-wide strategic plan that defines solutions-based, partnership initiatives
for conservation as central to the Aquarium's work plan for at least the next 5 years.
In order to strategically grow the work around sustainable seafood, the Aquarium
is evaluating the programme's successes and weaknesses to focus the efforts of
the team and improve the programme's overall effectiveness. In conducting this
analysis, the Aquarium aims to evaluate how our strengths can best be applied to
meet the needs of the seafood industry and to work in conjunction with the con-
servation community. Possible future programme opportunities include a growing
emphasis on aquaculture, the addition of other corporate retail and food service
partners, increased work directly with seafood suppliers and greater emphasis on
collaborative work with other members of the conservation community.
16.7.1
Increased focus on aquaculture
Statistics from the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) show
that seafood consumption is rising and the number of fish we can capture from the
ocean is stabilising. It is clear that farmed fish are going to be increasingly impor-
tant in the global marketplace to meet the growing demand for seafood, projected
to double in the next 25 years (FAO 2006b).Recognising the potential for signif-
icant environmental impacts on the marine environment due to the rapid rise of
aquaculture in the next several decades, the Aquarium sees a significant oppor-
tunity to facilitate, recognise and support the incorporation of the best manage-
ment practices that minimise environmental impacts as the aquaculture industry
grows.
16.7.2 New corporate partners
After several years of working with Ahold USA, the Aquarium has gained con-
siderable experience working with a large seafood buyer that must juggle multiple
factors throughout its purchasing processes. The environment is just one factor that
is considered in addition to matters such as price, quality, availability and customer
satisfaction. Since environmental responsibility is not typically the only factor that
drives business decisions, the Aquarium can assist companies in creatively incorpo-
rating this important factor that affects long-term business viability into their buying
practices. This experience has provided the Aquarium with a unique perspective
to work with other corporate partners as the interest in sustainability among the
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