WWF Launches Groundbreaking Seafood Business Programme

• 14 founding members have joined the “Sustainable Seafood Business Membership Programme”
• WWF acts as advisor to members from across the supply chain, including suppliers, restaurants and retailers

WWF-Hong Kong today launched its new Sustainable Seafood Business Membership Programme, funded by the KPMG Foundation, ahead of World Oceans Day on 8 June. The programme increases the accessibility of sustainable seafood across Hong Kong by linking suppliers, restaurants and retailers.
 
Nicole Wong, CEO of WWF-Hong Kong, said, “Seafood is an integral part of our lifestyle in Hong Kong, which is why it is so important that we make sustainable choices at the dinner table. To protect our ecosystems and conserve the natural environment, we must join hands with the public and business sector to raise awareness and drive behavioural change. It’s been amazing to see the level of support we’ve received from the industry. We still have a long way to go, but we are on the path to creating a brighter, shared future for humans and nature. Don’t forget: Habits Protect Habitats!”
 
WWF’s new Sustainable Seafood Business Membership Programme solves persistent challenges the F&B industry has faced in obtaining sustainable seafood supplier information by creating a consolidated information portal for members. This portal includes a real-time sustainable seafood e-directory, providing restaurants and retailers a quick and easy way to look for more sustainable choices. The sustainability of all products listed on the platform is assessed and verified by WWF-Hong Kong. 
 
Gloria Lai, Manager, Oceans Sustainability at WWF-Hong Kong, said, “The release of our updated Seafood Guide last year met with enthusiasm from consumers, with many of our partners in the business sector expressing the desire for a similar B2B guide. Our new business programme and e-directory are the first of their kind in Hong Kong and provide unprecedented transparency across the supply chain. Hong Kong’s seafood consumption remains the second-highest per capita in Asia, and our new programme will help the sustainable seafood market grow. Consumers will be able to see restaurant and retail members on WWF’s Seafood Guide website, or they can look for the WWF sustainable seafood badge at the point of sale.”
 
With WWF’s latest consumption survey showing that over half of the city’s consumers are more willing to buy seafood products recommended by environmental NGOs like WWF, the timing of the launch could not be better. Sustainable seafood currently represents a small but growing portion of global fish production, estimated at 179 million tonnes worth approximately USD 400 billion in 2018. 
 
Irene Chu, Partner, KPMG China and Board member of KPMG Foundation said, “The KPMG Foundation has a mission to drive systematic change that addresses environmental and social issues. We are delighted to be the first sponsor of this programme in collaboration with WWF-Hong Kong to promote and transform the supply of sustainable seafood in Hong Kong.”
 
KPMG China has made strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments throughout Our Impact Plan, which covers the firm’s dedication to having a positive impact on nature and biodiversity. Irene added, “To create a resilient future where people and nature thrive, we are putting together innovative solutions. One example is the Bankable Nature Solutions mariculture pilot project we are working on with WWF. By introducing ecologically sound and sustainable mariculture processes, the project aims to improve the sustainability and traceability of local farmed fish and support the development of more climate-resilient and sustainable landscapes and economies. We hope this pilot project can be a showcase of how commercially viable nature-based solutions can be adapted in Hong Kong and potentially be scaled in the Greater Bay Area in the future.”
 
To learn more about the Sustainable Seafood Business Membership Programme, please visit https://wwf.hk/seafood-contacts
 
To enrol, please navigate to https://wwf.hk/seafood-members  

Appendix: 
 
Sustainable Seafood Business Membership Programme Founding Members:
 

Restaurant	Café de Coral Holdings Limited
Restaurant	Tam Jai International (TamJai SamGor Mixian)
Restaurant	Tam Jai International (TamJai Yunnan Mixian)
Supplier	Aquaculture Technologies Asia Limited
Supplier	Hai Sang Hong Marine Foodstuffs Limited
Supplier	New Bon Marine (HK) Limited
Supplier	Qwehli Limited
Supplier	Worldwide Seafood Limited
Retailer	AEON Stores (Hong Kong) Co., Limited
Retailer	City Super Limited
Retailer	PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Hotel	Le Méridien Hong Kong, Cyberport
Hotel	Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers
Others	Ocean Park Hong Kong