Alaska’s Senators Laud Target’s Sustainable Seafood Mission
Store Commits to Sell Only Sustainable and Traceable Seafood by 2015
WASHINGTON, DC –Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today welcomed Target’s announcement that it plans to sell only sustainable and traceable seafood in its stores nationwide – and imposing a deadline of 2015 to reach that goal. This commitment from the billion-dollar chain will improve business and demand for Alaska’s fisheries, while providing additional nationwide visibility for the state’s seafood products.
“Alaska’s fisheries are an economic engine for our state and serve as the nation’s kitchen – we provide over half of the nation’s commercial seafood,” Murkowski said. “We became a state in part to ensure our fisheries would be managed in a sustainable manner, and Alaska's commitment to that principle has never wavered. We welcome the news of Target's commitment to sustainable and traceable seafood.”
“Alaskans take great pride in the unparalleled quality and taste of our wild seafood: salmon, halibut, Pollock, cod and crab, all of which are managed for sustainability,” Sen. Begich said. “As one of the largest seafood producers in the world, Alaska welcomes Target’s decision to feature more sustainable choices at the fish counter. I think it’s a decision that will be wildly popular among their customers.”
The initiative will be achieved through a partnership with Fish Wise and continued engagement with industry and vendor partners, and will apply to all of Target’s fresh and frozen seafood products.
“When Target eliminated farmed salmon in favor of wild-caught salmon last year, we took the first step in a long-term commitment to improving the sustainability of our seafood assortment,” said Shawn Gensch, Target’s Vice President of Marketing, who oversees the company’s sustainability programs. “As we continue toward 100 percent sustainable seafood, guests can shop with confidence knowing that Target’s seafood products are both healthy for their family and environmentally responsible.”
Target defines sustainable and traceable seafood as the sourcing of seafood products that are caught or raised in an environmentally sensitive manner and maintain Target’s business needs without jeopardizing the affected ecosystems. Target stores are found in 49 of 50 states, including three stores in Alaska.
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