Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods Attains Sustainability Milestone

Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods and its integrated processing partner, Phil Union Frozen Foods Inc., are celebrating the return of their 10,000th egg-bearing crab back to the wild. Under the partners’ sustainability initiative, Phil Union buys live berried crabs at full price from the fishermen and then returns them to the mangroves so they can release their eggs.

“We continually strive to identify and implement initiatives that embrace our commitment to offer seafood products that are produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner,” noted Paul McCarthy, EVP for El Segundo, Calif.-based Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods.

A founding member of the National Fisheries Institute’s (NFI) Crab Council, Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods also works with that group to help local fishermen realize the importance of allowing berried female crabs to release their eggs.

“These types of efforts by dedicated companies like Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods will have a real impact on the future of this fishery,” said Gavin Gibbons, secretary of the NFI Crab Council in McLean, Va. “The company’s commitment to their own sustainability projects, the council’s work and the resource itself is impressive.”

A division of the Thai Union Group family of companies, Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods is a leading importer of shrimp and pasteurized crab, and also maintains a strong focus on shellfish, finfish and value-added seafood products. The company markets its products to the retail, club, foodservice and wholesale industries.