Sustainable raw materials
We will work to increase the number of sustainable fisheries and the ratio of certified fisheries
Our fisheries must be managed in accordance with the scientific advice and be certified by an independent third party. We buy fish and shellfish according to equivalent principles and contribute to building up knowledge of sustainable fisheries, the marine environment and new species.
We wish to base our production on raw maerials from sustainable fisheries and to meet the increasing demand for MSC- and ASC-certified fish and shellfish. At Royal Greenland we are therefore working to achieve the certification of more fisheries.
The implementation of the MSC standard for Greenlandic fisheries is based on partnerships between fishing companies, local fishery associations, the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and public authorities. Royal Greenland is a member of Sustainable Fisheries Greenland, which has led to the certification of four Greenlandic fisheries.
Partnership – Sustainable Fisheries Greenland
Partnership – Sustainable Fisheries Greenland
Royal Greenland cooperates at several levels to ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries in the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. In Greenland, Sustainable Fisheries Greenland is the central body handling Greenlandic MSC applications and pre-assessments, in close cooperation with operators in the industry.
Fisheries can be sustainable without being MSC-certified which is why Royal Greenland assesses all fisheries and species internally. The assessment in 2019 shows that 80% of the fished and purchased raw materials are assessed to be sustainable. The proportion of less sustainable raw materials primarily concerns inshore cod and Greenland halibut fishing in western Greenland.
Sustainability certification assesses the management of the target species, bycatches and ecosystems, and the overall fisheries management. The advice concerning management and actual fishing is also assessed.
Objective
We will work to increase the number of sustainable fisheries and the ratio of certified fisheries.
Status 2020
Sustainable procurement, cf. Royal Greenland evaluation, 80%
Third-party certified resources, 57%
Goal 2022
Our goal is for 85% or more of our raw materials to fulfil our internal sustainability evaluation, and that certified fisheries account for at least 60% of Royal Greenland’s total volume of resources.
Initiatives
Retention of the current certificates.
Certification of new fisheries, including Greenland snow crab, Newfoundland lobster and some of the inshore Greenland halibut fishing in Greenland.
Certification of a larger proportion of purchased raw materials and finished products for sale than in 2019.
Ambition 2030
Towards 2030, in our work with our own fisheries and suppliers we will seek to ensure that more than 95% of our raw materials fulfil Royal Greenland’s internal sustainability assessment. The development in inshore Greenland halibut and cod fishing plays a major role in achieving this. Through our network and cooperation with other operators we will contribute to identifying risks and launching improvement projects.
Regarding third-party certification, our ambition is for 75% or more of the raw materials to be certified. The basis for this development is related closely to the development in inshore fisheries in Greenland, as well as procurement from other destinations.
