Rio Mare Reaffirms Its Commitment to Sustainable Fishing and the Reduction of Bycatch

For many years, Rio Mare has been committed to the increasingly sustainable sourcing of raw materials, to the development of sustainable fishing supply chains, to the promotion of actions to fight illegal fishing and reduce bycatch, and to the protection of the marine ecosystem.

Rio Mare is one of the founding members of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation – a global non-profit-making organisation committed to the sustainability of tuna stocks, the reduction of bycatch, and the health of the marine ecosystem. Rio Mare’s commitment to fighting bycatch is also demonstrated by its adherence to the Dolphin Safe programme. Since the 1990s, the Dolphin Safe trademark has certified tuna caught without killing or endangering dolphins. In addition, the company has worked in collaboration with the Spanish technology center AZTI to develop and test a pioneering device on its fishing vessels to reduce accidental fishing of vulnerable species such as small sharks or turtles.

“We believe that companies are not only economic entities, but also have an environmental and social responsibility: they must have a responsible attitude, make commitments on sustainability and set a good example. This is even more true for food companies, since they exist thanks to the generosity of nature, and it is, therefore, their duty to safeguard it,” commented Luciano Pirovano, Global Sustainable Development Director of our Food Business Unit.