Seafood Sustainability at Kroger

Supporting Sustainable Seafood at Kroger

Did you know that choosing to eat sustainably sourced seafood helps support both current and future marine populations? But when talking about fish and other seafood, what does “sustainable” mean, and how do you know if the food you’re buying comes from a sustainable source? On this page, we’ll go over what the phrase “sustainable seafood” really entails, the many ways Kroger is encouraging sustainable seafood practices and how you can help make a difference.

What is Sustainable Seafood?

The term “sustainable seafood” simply refers to fish and shellfish that are caught in ways that don’t negatively impact the long-term survival of their species or the ocean. By protecting wild fish and the habitats where they thrive, we can support populations now and into the future. Sustainable fishing practices also provide workers with a responsible and socially conscious work environment, which further contributes to the success of the overall industry.

What Are the Types of Sustainable Seafood?

When browsing the seafood aisle, you might notice that there are two main types of seafood that may be considered sustainable: wild-caught and farm-raised. Let’s go over the difference between each of these labels:

• Wild-caught: Wild-caught seafood refers to seafood that was caught in open waters, in its natural habitat. Here, seafood is selected from populations that are well-managed and the fishing gear has minimal impact on the habitat and other wildlife.
• Farm-raised: Also known as aquaculture, farm-raised seafood refers to fish that are raised on marine farms. This method helps relieve pressure on endangered species and marine habitats and ensures the availability of food in many parts of the world.

How Does Kroger Encourage Sustainability?

Taking action as the nation’s largest grocer, we launched our industry-leading seafood sustainability policy over a decade ago. This policy outlines the many ways we support our partners at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), multiple Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs), the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other initiatives regarding sustainability. By clearly defining our strategy and commitments that allow for continuous improvement, Kroger is able to continue supporting the advancement of sustainable seafood year over year.

In 2021, 94% of the fresh and frozen wild-caught seafood and 98% of the farm-raised seafood sold in our stores met our policy. Kroger is proud to work with sources that are focused on increasing sustainability and remains committed to sourcing all shelf-stable tuna from suppliers participating in the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). For more information about our work to increase seafood sustainability, check out the Planet section of our Environmental, Social & Governance report.

How Are Our Brands Driving Sustainability?

In 2021, Kroger’s Our Brands committed to sourcing 20% of shelf-stable tuna from MSC-certified fisheries, a certification granted by the Marine Stewardship Council to those who meet the international best practice guidelines for sustainable fishing. We’ve also updated Our Brands packaging to let our customers know that our products are helping improve the sustainability of the fisheries and farms we source from. Look for one of the following claims next time you shop seafood from Our Brands:

• Sustainably Sourced: Products that have been sustainably sourced are certified to standards that we consider best-in-class, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard for wild caught seafood, and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) 4-star standards for farm-raised seafood.
• Responsibly Sourced: Responsibly sourced products come from fisheries and farms that demonstrate sustainable practices. This includes fisheries that are working to address any environmental challenges necessary to achieving the appropriate certification through the MSC or other Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).

How Can You Make a Difference?

You can help make a difference by choosing sustainable seafood whenever possible. When shopping for frozen fish, canned tuna and other seafood, remember to check the label so you know you’re selecting a product that supports sustainable fishing practices. Head to our Seafood Department to pick up sustainably wild-caught and farm-raised fish and explore fresh, new recipes for the season.