Tags: Sustainable, Seafood, Source, Fishing, MSC, Gulf of Maine

Sustainable Seafood

What is sustainable seafood?

Sustainable seafood is seafood from a source that can maintain or increase its production in the future without jeopardizing the ecosystem. Sources are verified by independent organizations.

What does Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified mean?

The fishery must be conducted in a way that does not lead to over-fishing or depletion of the target stock. Fishing operations must be undertaken in a manner that minimizes fishery-related impact to the ecosystem on which the fishery depends. The fishery must be subject to an effective management system that promotes responsible and sustainable fishing.

Two independent organizations support Big Y's sustainable seafood.

Big Y has teamed with fishermen and suppliers from the local waters of the Gulf of Maine and all regions of the globe to bring you the best seafood for your family in the best way possible for the environment. Just look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested logos in our seafood case.

MSC Logo

Marine Stewardship Council

The MSC has developed standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability. Both standards meet the world's toughest best practice guidelines and are helping to transform global seafood markets. www.msc.org

Gulf of Maine Logo

Gulf of Maine Research Institute

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) is an independent, non-advocacy research entity focused on catalyzing solutions to the complex challenges of ocean stewardship and economic growth in the Gulf of Maine bioregion. www.gmri.org

Our offerings of Sustainable Seafood are growing weekly and already include:

  • King Salmon
  • Coho Salmon
  • Pacific Frozen Cod
  • Canadian Frozen Flounder
  • Icelandic Fresh Haddock
  • Canadian Fresh Haddock
  • Fresh Cod
  • Fresh Haddock
  • Fresh Sea Scallops
  • Sockeye Salmon

Gulf of Maine Logo

Best Aquaculture Practices Certified

The BAP has guiding principles for responsible, sustainable aquaculture. bap.gaalliance.org

What Does BAP Do?

  • BAP standards encompass the entire aquaculture production chain, including farms, processing plants, hatcheries and feed mills.
  • All standards address every key element of responsible aquaculture, including environmental responsibility, social responsibility, food safety, animal welfare and traceability.
  • The seafood processing plant standards are benchmarked against the latest Global Food Safety Initiative food-safety requirements.