Q & A with Paul Gallagher

General Manager of Clover Leaf Seafoods

Clover Leaf ranked as a top Canadian brand in Canned Seafood Sustainability

Paul Gallagher talks about how the company is making progress toward its sustainability commitments.

Tell us about how Clover Leaf Seafoods has committed to sustainability. What does that look like, and what are some specific actions Clover Leaf has taken in sustainable sourcing efforts?

We believe that certified sustainable seafood should be accessible and affordable to all Canadians. We committed that all seafood we source would be externally recognized as sustainable or in a formal program moving toward certification by 2025. As of 2022, 85 percent of our seafood supply met our sustainable sourcing commitment — a more than 50 percent increase from the prior year. Our certification is based on the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) global standard for certified sustainable seafood, and the equivalent certification for aquaculture (ASC). On store shelves we now have 47 Clover Leaf products that are MSC or ASC certified. This ranks Clover Leaf as #1 in Canadian Canned Seafood for the broadest assortment of MSC or ASC certified products. We still have work to do to meet our 2025 goal of 100 percent, but we are well on the way.

Today, Clover Leaf Seafoods is ranked as a top Canadian seafood brand in sustainability by SeaChoice, a science-based, NGO advocate for seafood sustainability in Canada. We are proud of the progress we have made in the responsible sourcing of seafood.

What is Clover Leaf doing in the way of ocean protection and restoration?

We believe it is our responsibility to protect and nurture the ocean, and that we must do so to continue to feed an increasing population. We work in partnership with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation to reduce by catch (the unintentional catching of other marine life while fishing). We work with Ocean Conservancy and the Global Ghost Gear Initiative to reduce plastic waste and remove abandoned fishing gear from the ocean. For example, we implemented a successful gear recovery program last summer, in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick.

What comes next for the Clover Leaf Seafoods and sustainability efforts?

The progress we have made is what fuels us to continue, and to push through challenges we encounter along the way. We know future generations depend upon the actions we take today, and we are determined to continue to act as a leader in canned seafood sustainability in Canada.