MEDIA RELEASE PR31926
Canadian Shrimp Becomes Clearwater Seafoods' Second MSC Certified Sustainable
Product
BEDFORD, NS, Sept. 23 /CNW-AsiaNet/ --
Canadian coldwater shrimp join Argentine scallops as Clearwater Seafoods'
second MSC certified offering.
The Marine Stewardship Council has certified the Canadian northern prawn
fishery as a sustainable and well-managed fishery.
"This is an exciting and important achievement," says Clearwater's CEO,
Colin MacDonald. "Not only for Clearwater but for Canada" noting the fishery
is the first Canadian fishery to achieve MSC certification.
Clearwater markets shrimp under their Clearwater Pride of St. Anthony
brand as well as numerous retailer and food service private label brands sold
around the globe.
Clearwater sustainable harvesting practices extend beyond their Argentine
scallops, which achieved MSC certification in 2006, and shrimp, explains
MacDonald, "We're proud of our record and efforts in the area of environmental
stewardship. It's been a commitment and our way of doing business for over
30 years."
"It is a rigorous and lengthy certification process. We see the MSC
certification as a testament to the efforts and passion of our employees,"
adds MacDonald, "While we have long practiced and invested in new technologies
that improve our sustainable harvesting methods, adding the globally
recognized blue MSC eco-label to our products makes it easier for the consumer
and chef to make responsible seafood choices."
Clearwater has two other fisheries, Canadian sea scallops and offshore
lobster, that have recently passed pre-assessment and entered into full
certification.
"We want people to be aware and care about fisheries sustainability,"
says MacDonald. "It is one way we will be able to win the fight against IUU
(illegal, unregulated and unreported) fishing that is still happening around
the globe. We need to create a level playing field and, most importantly,
ensure our oceans bounty is available for our children and our children's
children."
Dennis Coates, Clearwater's Business Development Manager for shrimp, and
a native of Newfoundland, understands the significance of the certification
for the discerning consumer as well as for the Newfoundland northern
communities whose livelihoods are linked to the fishery. "We say 'Love the
flavour, feel good about the choice'," says Coates, "This certification is
really just the icing on the cake. The product is flat out delicious and ultra
convenient. It's like 'sea candy'."
Unlike it's warm water counterpart coldwater shrimp are known for their
incredibly sweet and tender texture. They are cooked and peeled, individually
quick frozen and ready to eat.
"As far as applications go," Coates says, " the possibilities are
endless. We have recipe and menu applications for the consumer or chef that
span appetizer to ethnic cuisine such as salad or pizza toppers and shrimp
quesadillas."
"People are often intimidated about cooking seafood. This is not an issue
with cooked and peeled shrimp. Add them cold or at the end of a cooked dish
just enough to heat through," adds Coates.
Clearwater offers retailers in-store and on-premise support materials,
private label programs and more.
The product is fished across Newfoundland and Labrador and then cooked
and peeled and frozen at St. Anthony's state-of-the-art processing facility.
About Clearwater Seafoods Ltd.
------------------------------
Clearwater Seafoods is a leader in the global seafood industry recognized
for its consistent quality, wide diversity and reliable delivery of premium
seafood, including scallops, lobster, clams, cold-water shrimp, crab and
ground fish. Since its founding in 1976 Clearwater has invested in science,
people, technology, resource ownership and resource management to sustain and
grow its seafood resource. This commitment has allowed it to remain a leader
in the North American seafood industry.
To view Clearwater's A Sustainable Future and further information visit
About Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
--------------------------------------
The MSC is an international non-profit organization that was set up in
1997 to promote solutions to the problem of over fishing. The MSC runs a
globally recognized environmental certification and eco-labeling program for
wild capture fisheries. It is the only seafood eco-label that is consistent
with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental
Standards and UN FAO guidelines for fisheries certification including:
- Objective, third-party fishery assessment utilizing scientific
evidence;
- Transparent processes with built-in stakeholder consultation and
objection procedures;
- Standards based on the sustainability of target species, ecosystems and
management practices.
Worldwide, more than 1,600 seafood products resulting from the certified
fisheries bear the blue MSC eco-label. For more information, please visit
SOURCE Clearwater Seafoods Income Fund
/CONTACT: Holly Reardon, Director of Marketing, Clearwater
Seafoods, (902) 457-8154, hreardon(at)clearwater.ca/
(CLR.UN. CLR.DB. CLR.DB.A.)
Attachments:
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