WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — May 6, 2015 — The following was released by the Maine Certified Sustainable Lobster Association:
Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods (COSFF) is the newest company to join the Maine Certified Sustainable Lobster Association (MCSLA), a Maine-based nonprofit organization that helps its members navigate and access various certified sustainability programs to educate and meet the needs of their respective customers through sustainability initiatives. Chicken of the Sea will join a growing number of members choosing to reaffirm their commitment to sustainability through the Association’s programs, including Marine Stewardship Council certification.
COSFF, a division of Thai Union Frozen Products Group (TUF), is already a member of the Aquaculture Certification Council, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, National Fisheries Institute Crab Council, and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation. “Chicken of the Sea is focused on sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives,” said Bryan Rosenberg, President and CEO at Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods. “Our parent company, Thai Union Group, is a leading sustainability driven company in the global marketplace, and we look forward to further pursuing that commitment in the lobster industry.” According to Mr. Rosenberg, the company’s desire to join an open group dedicated to a sustainable lobster fishery and ecosystem sustainability inspired COSFF to apply for MCSLA membership.
“Maine lobster is known internationally as an iconic species that exemplifies high quality, sustainable seafood,” stated Craig A. Rief, President of the Maine Certified Sustainable Lobster Association. “Membership in the MCSLA shows that an organization has the highest standards of commitment to sustainability in our industry, and we are delighted to welcome Chicken of the Sea as a new member.”
MCSLA is an open collaboration between private and public stakeholders of the Maine Lobster fishery that seeks to protect and promote sustainability in the Gulf of Maine Lobster fishery. The Association is currently undergoing Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) ecolabel certification and expects to complete the process by November 2015. Once certified, any member company within MSC’s Chain of Certification may affix the MSC ecolabel to their products at any time, including retroactively from up to six months prior to certification.
MCSLA is now accepting new members, and several additional companies are in the process of applying. Membership in the Association is easy to achieve and available to any member of the Maine lobster industry who meets the basic eligibility requirements. MCSLA’s growing membership base keeps membership costs low and affordable. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Craig A. Rief at craig@craigsallnatural.com or John F. Whiteside, Jr. at John@JWhiteside.com.
About MCSLA
The Maine Certified Sustainable Lobster Association is a Maine-based nonprofit organization that helps its members access and navigate various certified sustainability programs to educate and meet the needs of their respective customers through sustainability initiatives. The Association is recognized by and has the support of the Maine Department of Marine Resources and Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, an organization that provides effective marketing and promotion of Maine lobster.
About Chicken of the Sea
Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods is a leading importer of shrimp, pasteurized crab and lobster that also maintains a strong focus on other shellfish, finfish and value added seafood products. They market their products to the retail, club, foodservice and wholesale industries. In addition, the company is a division of the Thai Union Group family of companies. This group forms one of the largest vertically and horizontally integrated seafood companies in the world with leadership positions in the shelf-stable, frozen and refrigerated seafood. The Thai Union Group maintains a global workforce of over 35,000 people who are dedicated to pioneering sustainable, innovative seafood products.