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Report: High Liner Foods Achieves 99% of its 2013 Sustainability Goal

T.HLF | February 6, 2014

High Liner Foods Incorporated (TSX: HLF) (“High Liner Foods” or “the Company”), the leading North American value-added frozen seafood company, announced today that it has achieved 99 percent of its goal to source all its seafood from “certified sustainable or responsible” fisheries and aquaculture. The company made a pledge in November 2010 to reach this goal by the end of 2013.

“Three years ago, we set an ambitious goal that fundamentally changed the way we do business, and I’m very proud that we’ve achieved 99 percent of that goal,” said Henry Demone, CEO of High Liner Foods. “I applaud the efforts of our entire team, and particularly our Corporate Director of Sustainability, Bill DiMento, and our Sustainability Council, procurement team, and systems development team for giving us a tool to track raw material purchases.”

Of the eight major species of fish and shellfish that High Liner Foods purchases, it has achieved 100 percent of its goal for Atlantic cod, haddock, pollock, sole/flounder, Pacific cod and Pacific salmon. The Company has achieved 98 percent of its commitment for tilapia and 91 percent for shrimp. Combined, those species totaled 196 million pounds of product purchased in 2013. Among the species that don’t currently meet High Liner’s sustainability criteria are various species of squid, ocean perch, and small wild shrimp.

High Liner Foods has published a progress report documenting some of the major fishery improvement projects it has participated in, along with areas of the business where its sustainability focus is expanding, such as packaging, energy efficiency, carbon footprint and social responsibility. The report, along with a video and infographic, can be accessed by visiting www.highlinersustainability.com.

“Together, with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and others within the NGO community, High Liner Foods has assumed a leadership role in substantial fishery and aquaculture improvements around the world. From day one, our efforts have been focused on continuous improvements, and that commitment will continue,” DiMento said.

“The most powerful way to catalyze fishery improvements is through continuous buyer engagement in the process. High Liner Foods is a great example of an industry leader using its purchasing power to bring about real positive changes throughout its supply chain,” said Jim Cannon, CEO of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, High Liner Foods’ non-governmental organization (NGO) partner.

High Liner Foods’ ongoing commitment is that 100 percent of wild-caught or farmed products must meet the following criteria:

They come from fisheries and aquaculture farms certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the Global Aquaculture Alliance's (GAA) Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program, or the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC); or
Those fisheries and farms not certified sustainable must be on a clear, defined path actively working toward certification and capable of documenting measurable improvements. High Liner Foods will continue to collaborate with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, to achieve these objectives.

The 99 percent achievement figure does not include American Pride Seafoods LLC, which High Liner Foods acquired in October 2013, and will be integrating into its operations in 2014.

About High Liner Foods

High Liner Foods is the leading North American processor and marketer of value-added frozen seafood. High Liner Foods' retail branded products are sold throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico under the High Liner, Fisher Boy, Mirabel, and Sea Cuisine labels, and are available in most grocery and club stores. The Company also sells branded products under the High Liner, Icelandic Seafood, FPI, Viking, Mirabel, Samband of Iceland, and American Pride Seafoods labels to restaurants and institutions, and is the major supplier of private label value-added frozen seafood products to North American food retailers and food service distributors. High Liner Foods is a publicly traded Canadian company, trading under the symbol HLF on the Toronto Stock Exchange.