Let me be very clear - sustainability is an imperative feature for the future of seafood (aquaculture and wild catch). However, the future is about more than just sustainability, its about corporate responsibility.

What do I mean by corporate responsiblity? Check out the corporate responsibility reports of all the world’s leading retailers and food manufacturers and you’ll find slightly different definitions and practices (its well worth doing this, you’ll have your eyes opened).

The basics are pretty much the same though, its about trying to minimise your negative actions and maximise your positive actions. Create a positive impact from your business activities.

Examples of corporate responsibility might include product positioning, environmental impact of business activities, integrity of sourcing practices, impact on local communities etc.

Will this help your business? From my experiences working in the UK with Young’s Seafood and Sainsbury’s, and contact I have had with Wholefoods in the US. The answer is YES YES YES. See these examples:

• Youngs Seafood
• Sainsbury
• Wholefoods
• Marine Harvest

To capitalise on the market opportunity you have to give the customer what the consumer wants. Corporate responsibilty can give you a point of difference as you develop your aquaculture business.

Can anyone share any other examples of exemplary corporate responsibility amongst producers / suppliers or retailers inside or outside the seafood industry?

One of the problems associated with large-scale aquaculture production in remote areas is cost-effective post-harvest processing. This is particularly the case in Western Australia, a State characterised by large distances, few major regional centres, an extensive coastline, a general lack of infrastructure in remote areas and, consequently, high costs.

The Western Australian Aquaculture Development Council recently commissioned a feasibility study to determine the most practicable economic solutions for processing fish produced by aquaculture in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Although targeting the Kimberley region, this study provides information on processing options fundamental to aquaculture in any remote area globally. It provides an in-depth analysis of post-harvest processing, which can be applied as a key input to a comprehensive, bankable feasibility study for aquaculture production in remote regions generally.