Seafood sustainability group appoints Cermaq executive
Wenche Grønbrekk, former head of sustainable development at salmon farmer Cermaq, has joined SeaBOS (Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship) as director of strategy, partnerships and external relations.
Cermaq is among 10 of the world’s largest seafood companies collaborate in SeaBOS to implement a joint vision to develop more sustainable seafood production and improved ocean health.
SeaBOS said Grønbrekk had extensive experience driving sustainability initiatives, including roles at Cermaq, in the UN Global Compact Ocean Stewardship Coalition, and as a Task Force leader within SeaBOS.
Transformative change
“Wenche will bring a depth of skills, expertise, existing connections, and collaborative approaches to SeaBOS,” said the organisation’s managing director, Martin Exel.
“Her appointment will help communicate and drive our actions and increase our ability to influence transformative change to sustainable seafood production and a healthier ocean.”
Therese Log Bergjord, chief executive of aquafeed producer Skretting and vice-chair of SeaBOS, said: “Transformative change requires hard work, dedication and commitment to our shared vision. Wenche truly understands SeaBOS, the seafood industry and the wider ocean governance context. I am excited to welcome her in her new role.”
10% of seafood production
SeaBOS members include the world’s biggest salmon farmer, Mowi; Japanese fisheries and aquaculture companies Maruha Nichiro and Nissui; global seafood giant Thai Union; and Korea’s Dongwon Industries.
Feed producers Skretting and Cargill are also members, as are Japanese marine products and seafood company Kyokuyo and Thailand-headquartered Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF) which has operations in 17 countries.
Together, SeaBOS companies represent over 10% of the world’s seafood production.
Global presence
“I am excited to join SeaBOS to help accelerate impact on ocean health and industry sustainability through collaborative action,” said Gronbrekk in a press release. “With its global presence, science-based approach and bold ambitions, SeaBOS companies can really lead positive change, and I look forward to working with industry players to drive progress going forward.”
SeaBOS’s science partners include Sweden’s Stockholm Resilience Centre, an international research centre on resilience and sustainability science, and the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business at Lancaster University in the UK.
SeaBOS has task forces focused on eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, communications, working with governments, transparency and governance of SeaBOS, reducing ocean plastics and climate resilience.
