If you’ve ever opened a can of tuna and wondered just where those fish came from, how it was caught or even the name of the boat that fished it, you are in luck. Chicken of the Sea International has announced a new digital traceability tool allowing customers to pinpoint this information and more — part of the company’s global commitment to seafood sustainability.
The new interactive program currently covers all San Diego-based Chicken of the Sea shelf-stable tuna products and will soon to the company’s entire shelf-stable product line.
“It is important for our customers to have an opportunity to know the story behind their fish – where it came from, how it was caught, where it was canned and how the process fits within our sustainability program,” says Jennifer Woofter, Chicken of the Sea’s director of sustainability. “Traceability is an essential step in the responsible sourcing and sustainability process and we are excited to make this development available to our customers.”
So just how does the program work? Chicken of the Sea customers can simply enter the 10- to 15-digit number located on the bottom of their tuna cans to receive answers to the following seven questions:
1. What is my seafood? Visitors are given an initial description of their tuna or other seafood species.
2. Where was my seafood caught? These results include a world map showing the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Area where the tuna or other seafood was caught, and a link to a species-specific stock status report from the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF).
3. What fishing method was used? This section includes both the fishing method and vessel size.
4. What fishing vessel caught my seafood? This information includes fishing vessel name, nation of registry and fishing trip start and end dates.
5. How was my seafood processed? The processing method is subject to Chicken of the Sea’s strict compliance requirements and stringent Business Ethics and Labor Code of Conduct.
6. Where was my seafood canned? The can code indicates where the seafood was processed and canned, which may not necessarily be where it was caught.
7. How does Chicken of the Sea support sustainability? This section details Chicken of the Sea’s commitment to sustainability as part of the SeaChange program.
The Chicken of the Sea Trace Your Product tool can be found here.