Publix donates to fisheries; further commits to marine life conservation

June 08, 2022

Today, on World Oceans Day, we’re announcing our continued support of seafood sustainability by donating $40,000 to Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP). We’re also enhancing our commitment to marine life conservation by collaborating with SFP to analyze and understand current fishing practices within the supply chain. 

Support of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership

SFP is a nonprofit marine conservation organization dedicated to bringing retailers, seafood buyers and their supply chains together to protect the environment while continuing to promote the sustainable productivity of fisheries and fish farms. 

This is our 12th year donating to SFP, contributing a total of $480,000 to support fishery and aquaculture improvement projects and other efforts to advance the sustainability of seafood. We have collaborated with SFP since 2009.  

Commitment to marine life conservation  

This year, we were the first U.S. retailer to join with SFP, BirdLife International and Whale and Dolphin Conservation to review and understand the risks from the unintended catch of ocean wildlife within the seafood sourcing supply chain. 

Unintended catch, referred to in the seafood industry as bycatch, occurs when commercial fishers accidentally catch nontarget species while fishing, which is a contributor to endangered, threatened and protected species population decline. Affected populations include whales, sharks, dolphins, turtles, seabirds and more. 

We have already supported several Fishery Improvement Projects, which address the impacts of unintended catch when targeting mahi mahi and tuna from Costa Rica, Canadian snow crab and U.S. Gulf of Mexico shrimp. Additionally, we are prioritizing further improvement efforts to reduce the impacts of fishing on marine wildlife at other fisheries where we source seafood. 

“It’s a priority to Publix to source from healthy, well-managed fisheries,” said Business Development Director of Seafood Guy Pizzuti. “We look forward to continuing to work with SFP and across the seafood industry to address unintended catch of endangered, threatened and protected species.” 

“Sustainable seafood includes reducing the harm from fishing to sharks, marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds,” said SFP Global Markets Director Kathryn Novak. “Action by retailers like Publix, as well as the entire seafood supply chain, is essential to preserving ocean wildlife.”

Read more about sustainability efforts at Publix.