NORWAY – The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) a public company owned by the Norwegian Government has signed the Sustainable Ocean Principles of the United Nations Global Compact, strengthening its commitment to helping secure a healthy and productive ocean.

The UN Global Compact Sustainable Ocean Practices provide a framework for responsible ocean-related business practices. They build upon and supplement the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

By signing the principles, NSC joins more than 30 businesses and organisations across the world in committing to ensure it conducts its business in a sustainable and responsible way.

A total of nine principles are included in the list, falling into three categories; ocean health and productivity; governance and engagement, and finally, data and transparency.

By endorsing the Sustainable Ocean Principles the NSC commits to abide by the guidelines and recommendations and to communicate yearly progress.

“This is much bigger than just the seafood industry, healthy oceans are vital to everyone everywhere,” Chris Guldberg, Communications Director at the Norwegian Seafood Council told Food Business Africa.

“We all have to do what we can to ensure we manage the earth’s resources in a responsible way for healthy ocean economies and future generations’ needs.

“All companies and organisations should take action now for a healthy and productive ocean,” Guldberg added.

The Tromsø headquartered the Seafood Council works with the Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture industries to develop markets for Norwegian seafood and has reported on its  sustainability commitment since 2009.

Promoting a sustainable ocean business

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact for Sustainable Ocean Business is a call to companies to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles.

The organization has put emphasis on the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs or ‘Global Goals’)

The UN Global Compact Action Platform for Sustainable Ocean Business is taking a comprehensive view of the role of the ocean in achieving the 17 Global Goals.

The aim is to explore attractive, viable solutions and best practices for sustainable use and management of the ocean.

By bringing together the leading industries in aquaculture, energy production, fisheries and shipping with key banks, equity funds and insurance companies, the Platform has a cross-industry, cross-UN and cross-Global Goals approach.

Leading up to the 2020 UN Ocean Conference, the Platform is designed to drive decision-making processes and catalyse partnerships to advance shared ocean priorities across all 17 Global Goals with a specific aim to scale up the commitments and performance of companies on this critical agenda.