Sustainable seafood you can trust

The sea has been a source of nourishing and delicious food since people first made this country home. That’s why sustainability and caring for the environment, not only for today but for the benefit of future generations, is at the heart of New Zealand’s seafood industry.

When you stock seafood from New Zealand, you know that you’re serving your customers world class products that are made with care.

Protecting what nature provides

In New Zealand, we combine legislation, technology and traditional approaches to protect our precious and diverse marine ecosystems.

The Māori concept of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) guides the way our industry works and underpins the emphasis on ensuring that the bounty of the sea is preserved for generations to come.

We have strict legislation that sets out the framework for the sustainable management of our fisheries. The Fisheries Act 1996 outlines that fisheries resources must be managed in a way that meets the foreseeable needs of future generations as well as avoiding, remedying or mitigating any adverse effects on the environment.

To protect our marine biodiversity, we also have more than 100 protected areas including marine reserves and marine mammal sanctuaries, as well as bottom trawling and bottom fishing restrictions.

A world-leader in sustainable seafood

New Zealand was the first country in the world to establish a Quota Management System, which sets a yearly catch limit for 99 species including shellfish and seaweed in a particular area.

More than 30 years on, this system covers 95% of New Zealand’s commercial catch, including the delicately flavoured Hoki fished in the deep icy cold waters of the Tasman Sea. New Zealand Hoki was the first large-scale fishery in the world to be certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, the gold-star in sustainable certification labels, and remains certified more than 20 years later.

It’s a track record we’re proud of. And a track record you’ll be proud to share with your consumers who are more frequently demanding sustainably caught seafood.

Innovation to drive change

While managing catch limits is a fundamental part of protecting fish stocks, so too is innovation.

It’s a big claim to make, but a New Zealand-developed fishing method has the potential to change the way the world fishes. ‘Tiaki’ uses Precision Seafood Harvesting’s revolutionary technology that allows fish to be landed on boats alive and allows some undersized fish to be released. In time it could replace trawling, a common fishing method used by many countries.

Proving we do what we say

For us, sustainability is more than just a buzz word. We’re always working on initiatives to help producers do more and reassure those that enjoy our exceptional seafood that they can do so without worrying about where it’s come from or how it’s been produced.

The Fisheries Change Programme aims to strengthen and modernise the way New Zealand’s fisheries are managed. It includes digital monitoring of commercial fishing, creating a whole new level of transparency around the amount and the species of fish being caught, and exactly where they are being caught.

And in aquaculture, the A+ programme provides practical tools for marine farmers to improve environmental practices such as water quality, waste management food safety, plus engage better with local communities.

All this sounds good, but what does it really mean? It means that when you buy New Zealand seafood, you can be reassured that it’s not just exceptional quality, but that it’s made with care and the future in mind.

When you stock seafood from New Zealand, you know that you’re serving your customers world class products that are made with care.

Enquire now to find out more.