Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainably Managing Seafood

Resources: a Not-for-Profit Perspective

Julianna Mullen Assistant Director of Technical Programs

Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries A Program of Audubon Nature Institute

Many players, one goal

• CSR mandates put pressure on LA fishing industry • Industry responded, asking for certification

• 2009: Louisiana blue crab starts investigating sustainability • 2012: Blue crab receives MSC certification

• Increase and promote the sustainability of LA and regional fisheries

The certification process offers clarity

• Louisiana (and Gulf) fisheries are different • Louisiana needed help communicating those differences • Our industry needed an advocate • Transparency had to be increased • Things needed to be done differently

Enter Audubon Nature Institute

• 504(c)(3) not-for-profit • “Celebrating the Wonders of Nature” • Offers transparency and credibility

G.U.L.F. focuses on:

• Facilitation • Communication • Education • Certification

What Is G.U.L.F.?

A holistic program moving forward

• Certification • Creation of the G.U.L.F. Standard

• MAP release • Outreach

• Restaurant program • Chef council

The G.U.L.F. Standard

CHALLENGE: How do you measure the sustainability of fisheries that are environmentally triggered? • Translation of the FAO Code of Conduct

• Ecolabeling guidelines

• ANI is the standard owner • We did not write the standard

• For use in Gulf State fisheries • Takes into account unique life history of our

fisheries

MAP program

CHALLENGE: How do you make increased sustainability actionable for the Gulf region? • For smaller fisheries • Evaluating management based on Caddy

Checklist • Action Plans that give a road map toward

greater sustainability • Help fulfill CSR mandates • Hands-on approach

Restaurant program/Outreach CHALLENGE: What’s the most effective way to bring sustainability to consumers? • Partnership with G.U.L.F. • Chef Council • Area restaurants dedicated to serving

sustainable Gulf seafood • Recommendations, not requirements

• Staff trainings

More outreach

• Attending/speaking at industry meetings • Festivals • Partnering with retailers/local Whole Foods

Our contributions

• Regional organization • Trusted source of information • Collaborative voice • Transparency

Thanks!

• Julianna Mullen • jmullen@auduboninstitute.org

• John Fallon (Assistant Director of Outreach) • jfallon@auduboninstitute.org