Just 13 corporations control 19 to 40% of the largest and most valuable stocks and 11 to 16% of the global marine catch meaning they have a huge effect on sustainability, says new research published in the journal PLOS ONE.
The researchers said that these "keystone" corporations of the global seafood industry critically shape the future of marine ecosystems, but have yet to assume responsibility at a global scale.
Henrik Österblom, lead author and deputy science director, Stockholm Resilience Centre, said: “Active leadership in sustainability initiatives by these corporations could result in a cascade through the entire seafood industry towards improved management of marine living resources and ecosystems.”
In the study, the researchers analysed thirteen companies are influential in shaping large marine ecosystems around the world because they are involved in both wild capture fisheries and aquaculture, including whitefish, tuna, salmon, shellfish, fishmeal, fish oil, and aqua feeds. Their combined annual revenues correspond to 18% of the global value of seafood production in 2012 (US$252bn).
The study found that the average annual revenues of the 160 largest companies in 2012 exhibit a distinct keystone pattern, where the top 10% account for 38% of total revenues.
The 13 investigated companies include Maruha Nichiro (Tokyo, Japan), Nippon Suisan Kaisha - Nissui (Tokyo, Japan),Thai Union Frozen Products (Samutsakorn, Thailand), Marine Harvest (Bergen, Norway), Dongwon Industries (Seoul, South Korea), Skretting (Stavanger, Norway), Pescanova (Pontevedra, Spain), Austevoll Seafood (Storebø, Norway), Pacific Andes (Hong Kong, China), EWOS (Oslo, Norway), Kyokuyo (Tokyo, Japan), Charoen Pokphand Foods - CP Foods (Bangkok, Thailand) and Trident Seafood (Seattle, USA).
