Raincoast Trading is committed to preserving the well-being of our world marine ecosystems. We wholeheartedly support efforts to minimize overfishing, bycatch, and habitat damage.
Look at the bottom of your Raincoast cans. There’s more to it than a best-before date.
That simple production code can tell us the whole story about your fish: where it was caught, the name of the boat and the captain, trip dates, and much more.
This information is critical in substantiating a sustainability claim. We can (and do) give this information to ocean conservation groups as part of their auditing systems. This provides them the tools
This information is critical in substantiating a sustainability claim. We can (and do) give this information to ocean conservation groups as part of their auditing systems. This provides them the tools they need to declare Raincoast Trading a great sustainable seafood choice!
Overfishing occurs when the fishing rate is higher than the rate at which fish reproduce and repopulate or when there are not enough adult fish left to breed and maintain a healthy population.
Illegal (unreported & unregulated) fishing and destructive fishing (eg. using explosives or cyanide to stun or kill fish) can contribute to overfishing and habitat damage. Longlining and other unsustainable fishing methods remove fish and other marine life from the ocean faster than the rate at which they reproduce.
Sources: MSC, Ocean Wise™
Bycatch (or unwanted catch) is fish or other marine species caught unintentionally while trying to catch another type of fish.
This problem is multiplied when endangered, threatened and protected species such as turtles and dolphins are accidentally caught, injured or killed.
Some fishing gear types, like pelagic or surface longlining and bottom trawling can increase the likelihood and amount of bycatch.
Sources: MSC, Ocean Wise™
Ecosystems and habitats can be changed or damaged by fishing. For example, bottom trawled fishing gear can have an impact on vulnerable seafloor habitats – places where endangered or slow-growing species such as sea pens and sponges grow.
With the loss of crucial habitats such as spawning, nursery, breeding or sheltering areas, many species find it challenging to survive, let alone thrive.
It’s important that fisheries understand, manage and mitigate their potential impacts. Actions fisheries take may include closing areas off from fishing, using better fishing gear and monitoring ecosystems more closely.
Sources: MSC, Ocean Wise™
We only source from fisheries with sustainable stocks and from fishers who adhere to responsible fishing methods (such as pole-and-line tuna fishing). Our traceability data will always be front and center.
Because of this, Raincoast Trading is the first Canadian packaged retail seafood company endorsed by the respected Ocean Wise™ conservation program as an environmentally-friendly seafood choice for retail grocers and consumers around the world.
As of 2020, all of our Raincoast Trading seafood products are MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certified. MSC is the world’s leading sustainable, wild-caught seafood certification program. Raincoast tuna products have also topped Greenpeace’s Canadian tuna sustainability ranking for its dedication to responsible and ethical sourcing.
What does this add up to? It means you can be confident that you are supporting sustainable seafood, caught using responsible means, and produced transparently. You’ll feel good about how good seafood can taste.
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