1.27.2006 ET

(CSRwire) London - Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) [1], welcomed the recent announcement by Wal-Mart [2] that the company is seeking to source all of its wild-caught fresh and frozen fish[3] for the North American market from fisheries that meet the MSC's independent environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries.

The decision will lead to dozens of fish products bearing the MSC's distinctive blue eco-label becoming available to Wal-Mart's North American customers in coming years.

"This is a big and exciting development, demonstrating a leadership position," said Howes. "As part of a wider company commitment to sustainable seafood procurement, Wal-Mart has committed to source, over a number of years, all of their fresh and frozen wild capture supplies for the North American market from fisheries certified against the MSC's standard. An immediate target is to ensure all seafood that already comes from certified fisheries will carry the MSC eco-label in Wal-Mart stores later this year. It is hoped that this commitment to the MSC programme will encourage other fisheries into the assessment process and provide a powerful new route to raise awareness of sustainable seafood choices with the North American public."

Conservation International and WWF will be working with Wal-Mart and their suppliers to make improvements in less well managed fisheries, including strengthening management practices, rebuilding stocks, reducing environmental impacts, and encouraging support for broader marine ecosystem management and protection efforts. As fisheries improve, Wal-Mart and suppliers will encourage them to participate in the MSC certification programme.

Together the global retail value of MSC-labelled seafood in 2004/05 was $133,609,933.

ENDS

MEDIA CONFERENCE, SEATTLE: Rupert Howes, CEO, will be attending the Seafood Choices Alliance Seafood Summit in Seattle, 29-31 January. He will be available for a brief media conference on Sunday 29 January at 16.00 at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel (2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle).

Further information
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive, tel. +44 7960 958 139
Jessica Wenban-Smith, Communications Manager, tel. +44 7751 836 346
Jim Humphreys, Regional Director - Americas, tel. +1 206 691 0188
Marnie Bammert, Communications Officer, tel. +44 7962 557 814

Editor's notes
[1] The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an independent non-profit organisation set up to promote solutions to the problem of overfishing. Its distinctive blue eco-label can now be found on more than 300 products sold in major retail chains in more than 24 countries. Further information: www.msc.org.

[2] The announcement was made in a meeting with Wal-Mart suppliers, the MSC, Conservation International and WWF at Wal-Mart HQ in Bentonville, Arkansas, on 19 January 2006.

[3] The initial target of 100% fresh and frozen fish excludes value-added products, such as breaded products. However it is hoped that the scope of the project will be extended in future.

[4] The fisheries certified to date are Alaska salmon, Alaska Pollock (GOA/BSAI), South African hake, Western Australia rock lobster, Mexican Baja California spiny lobster, New Zealand hoki, Loch Torridon nephrops, South West Cornwall mackerel, Burry Inlet cockles, Thames herring, South Georgia toothfish, Hastings pelagic (herring & mackerel), Hastings Dover sole.

For more information please contact:

Marnie Bammert , Communications Officer
+44 7962 557 814

Jim Humphreys - Americas , Regional Director
+1 206 691 0188

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