Ocean & Fishery health
Protection starts at the source
Gorton’s focus remains on our most vital resources: the ocean and its fisheries. As a leader in our industry, we accept the responsibility to protect and conserve our source fisheries and to ensure that we deliver on our mission: spreading the goodness of the sea by making quality seafood accessible to everyone for generations to come.
We plan to drive progress by setting and achieving ambitious goals and shaping our sourcing strategies in continued collaboration with our suppliers and NGO Partner, the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium.
2024
Accomplishments
>99% of wild-caught seafood sourced certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC); continuing to support an Ecuadorean Fishery Improvement Project to help address the <1%.
100% of aquaculture seafood sourced certified Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) 4 Star.
Completed Year 1 of Gorton’s Action Plan with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) to help address abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear & ocean plastic in our supply chain.
2025-2027
Smart goals
Continue supporting the Ecuador Titi Shrimp Fishery Improvement Project as it progresses its workplan (targeting completion in 2028), allowing for pursuit of MSC certification.
Complete Year 2 & 3 Action Plan in collaboration with GGGI.
Identify opportunities to further strengthen aquaculture sourcing requirements and identify a project to advance aquatic animal health monitoring in our aquaculture supply base by 2025.
Drive collaboration between Alaska Pollock suppliers, New England Aquarium, & other industry partners on bycatch and ocean plastic reduction efforts with the goal of supporting an industry pilot project by 2027.
Continue supporting the Ecuador Titi Shrimp Fishery Improvement Project as it progresses its workplan (targeting completion in 2028), allowing for pursuit of MSC certification.
Identify opportunities to further strengthen aquaculture sourcing requirements and identify a project to advance aquatic animal health monitoring in our aquaculture supply base by 2025.
2025-2027
Smart goals
Complete Year 2 & 3 Action Plan in collaboration with GGGI.
Drive collaboration between Alaska Pollock suppliers, New England Aquarium, & other industry partners on bycatch and ocean plastic reduction efforts with the goal of supporting an industry pilot project by 2027.