Walmart and Sam’s Club toughen seafood supply chain standards
Walmart and its Sam’s Club discount warehouse subsidiary are aiming for a more transparent tuna supply chain.
The discount giant is enacting stronger standards designed to improve transparency and data gathering in the tuna supply chain to address issues such as accidental catch of non-targeted species, illegal fishing, and abandonment of fishing gear.. The new standards cover Walmart U.S., Walmart Canada and Sam’s Club suppliers.
Walmart and Sam’s Club are now asking tuna suppliers to source exclusively from vessels that have 100% observer monitoring (electronic monitoring or human observer)1 by 2027; and to source from fisheries using zero high seas transshipment unless the transshipment activity is covered by 100% observer monitoring (electronic monitoring or human coverage)2 by 2027.
More details on each element of the updated standards follow:
Observer monitoring
Observer programs can be managed by people or through electronic monitoring devices, including new artificial intelligence (AI) technology. To improve transparency and promote better fishing practices, these programs leverage data and coverage of fishing activities.
Zero high seas transshipment without observer monitoring
Transshipment refers to the transfer of any of fish or fish products from one fishing vessel to another vessel at sea or in port. According to the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, at-sea transshipment can prevent the collection of accurate data about seafood products and lead to illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing activities.
Walmart says the risk of undesirable transshipment activity is typically greatest on the high seas. Comparatively, in-port transshipment with 100% observer monitoring promotes greater transparency and according to the retailer, may even provide a range of socio-economic benefits, including local employment and lower costs of goods.
“Along with our goal for all Walmart and Sam’s Club shelf-stable private and national brand tuna to come from a Fishery Improvement Project or Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified source by 2025, these enhanced requirements will help build transparency, encourage best practices and drive continuous improvement by helping address systemic issues in the tuna supply chain,” Melody Richard, senior VP, pantry, Walmart U.S., Alain Nzigamasabo, senior VP, GMM, grocery & beverages, Sam's Club, and Sam Wankowski, chief merchandising officer, Walmart Canada, said in a corporate blog post.
“This is a critical decade for action and there's work to do together. Our associates, customers, suppliers, producers and NGOs are the backbone of this progress, and we look forward to continuing building on this momentum together.”
[Read more: Walmart details ESG progress]