Thai Union Commits Publicly to Safeguard Marine Life, Enhances Efforts to Revive At-Risk Species, and Encourages Other Firms to Participate

Barcelona – Today marked a significant milestone for Thai Union, a global leader in the seafood industry, as it became the first company to endorse the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership's Protecting Ocean Wildlife pledge. This groundbreaking commitment involves identifying the fisheries with the highest risk of bycatch involving endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species and implementing strategies to mitigate these risks. These strategies include widespread adoption of best practices, ensuring 100-percent observer coverage, fostering innovation and science, continuous enhancement of supply chains, and transparent public reporting. Adam Brennan, Thai Union's Group Director of Sustainability, expressed the company's pride in leading this initiative. "By being the inaugural signatory of the pledge, we set a precedent for the seafood industry. We encourage our peers to join us in this vital commitment. Achieving our collective goals of protecting and rejuvenating endangered marine species can only be realized through the concerted efforts of industry leaders," he stated. In March 2023, Thai Union pledged to source exclusively from vessels that adhere to best practices for minimizing bycatch, a decision informed by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) research into the impact on sharks, seabirds, turtles, and other marine life, as well as an audit by Key Traceability of Thai Union’s tuna fishery improvement projects in the most at-risk fisheries. The findings of Thai Union's audit are publicly accessible online. Kathryn Novak, Director of Biodiversity and Nature at SFP, highlighted the importance of industry-wide participation. "Thai Union's initiative is commendable, but significant reduction in bycatch requires the entire industry's commitment. We aim to have an additional 10 companies pledge their support by World Oceans Day in June," she remarked. The "bycatch audit" conducted by Thai Union is part of the Protecting Ocean Wildlife initiative by SFP, an international campaign led by the industry to tackle the issue of marine wildlife bycatch. SFP reviewed Thai Union’s source fisheries, assessing sustainability data to identify risks and opportunities for reducing bycatch. Sustainable Fisheries Partnership invites seafood companies to engage and learn more about mitigating ocean bycatch. About Sustainable Fisheries Partnership: Established in 2006, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is a marine conservation organization dedicated to ensuring healthy oceans, sustainable seafood production, and access to sustainable seafood for all. SFP works with seafood buyers and retailers throughout the supply chain to restore fish stocks, minimize fishing and aquaculture's environmental impacts, address social issues within the industry, and promote economic opportunities for fishing communities. Through Supply Chain Roundtables (SRs), seafood suppliers collaborate in a non-competitive setting to support and drive improvements in fisheries and aquaculture practices, management, and policy. For more information, visit www.sustainablefish.org. About Thai Union: For over 46 years, Thai Union Group PCL has been at the forefront of the global seafood industry, offering high-quality, nutritious, delicious, and innovative seafood products to consumers worldwide. With a commitment to "Healthy Living, Healthy Oceans," Thai Union operates with a global workforce of over 44,000, dedicated to leading the industry in sustainability and innovation. The company's extensive brand portfolio includes international and Thai brands, catering to a diverse range of tastes and preferences. Thai Union's dedication to sustainability has been recognized globally, with consecutive listings on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and other prestigious indexes. Learn more about Thai Union's sustainability efforts at seachangesustainability.org.