Gillnetting Violates Company's Policy on Sustainable Oceans

SAN DIEGO – Jan. 17, 2007 – Enforcing its long-standing policy on maintaining the sustainability of the world’s oceans and stewardship of the environment, Chicken of the Sea International this week called on its tuna suppliers to suspend business practices with Far Ocean Sea Products of Singapore.

Environmental group Earth Island Institute recently issued an advisory that Far Ocean Sea Products uses gillnetting to catch tuna.  The United Nations and Chicken of the Sea’s sustainability policy ban gillnetting in worldwide waters.  Gilnetting is a destructive method of fishing causing harm to numerous other species, including dolphin.  The process entails setting mesh fishing nets vertically in the water so fish swimming into it are entangled by their gills.

“Gillnetting not only violates our policy on sustainable oceans, but it also undermines the management of the world’s tuna stocks,” said John Signorino, president and CEO, Chicken of the Sea International.  “We’ve asked our suppliers to suspend dealing with Far Ocean Sea Products as a source of our tuna.  It’s the right thing to do, and we’ll only work with businesses that support our practice of protecting the world’s oceans.”

Chicken of the Sea International implemented "The Mermaid Cares" dolphin-safe policy in April 1990.  More information about its sustainability pledge and dolphin-safe policy can be found at www.chickenofthesea.com.

A seafood category leader, Chicken of the Sea International provides a variety of shelf-stable seafood products under the Chicken of the Sea brand, including tuna, salmon, crab, shrimp, oysters, clams, mackerel and sardines.  The Chicken of the Sea brand and famous Mermaid icon are among the most recognized brands in America.