Publix among nine companies taking part in Ocean Disclosure Project

Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets is the first U.S. grocery retailer to participate in the Ocean Disclosure Project, an initiative launched by Honolulu, Hawaii-headquartered Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. Several U.K. grocery chains are involved in the project, including Asda, Co-op – UK and Morrisons, plus a number of suppliers and aquaculture feed manufacturers.

A corporate transparency platform for sustainable wild seafood, the Ocean Disclosure Project launched earlier in the summer as an interactive website through which participating companies share data regarding where wild seafood is caught, fishing methods and gear types used, environmental impact, certifications and sustainability improvement projects. Funded by the London-based John Ellerman Foundation, the project allows firms to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable fish and shellfish sourcing.

 “The companies that have participated in the Ocean Disclosure Project should be highly commended for demonstrating real leadership in corporate reporting,” said Jim Cannon, CEO of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. “The seafood sector as a whole has poor transparency, and this kind of comprehensive reporting shows a very high level of responsibility by these companies along with a real confidence in their business model."