Thai Union joins initiative to help combat marine plastics
Thai Union Group PCL, one of the world’s largest seafood companies, has joined forces with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) in a drive to reduce the growing problem of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear worldwide.
GGGI is an alliance founded by World Animal Protection in 2015, which is dedicated to tackling the problem of ghost fishing gear on a global scale.
GGGI’s participants include the fishing industry, the private sector, academia, governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. Every participant has a role to play to mitigate ghost gear locally, regionally and globally.
Thai Union’s participation in the GGGI reflects its commitment to combat marine plastic pollution, in line with SeaChange®, the company’s sustainability strategy to improve the entire global seafood industry.
“Ghost gear represents one of the biggest threats to animals in our oceans, significantly reducing fish stocks and entangling, injuring and killing millions of animals every year,” said Joel Baziuk, secretariat for the Global Ghost Gear Initiative.
“It is key for seafood industry leaders such as Thai Union to come together with NGOs, government and other stakeholders to improve the health of marine ecosystems, protect marine animals and safeguard human health and livelihoods.”
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that every year, approximately 8 million tons of plastic enters the ocean, most of it urban waste, particularly plastic litter and microplastics.