Wild Planet Foods founder and CEO Bill Carvalho explains why his company sources pole and line caught tuna to eliminate “bycatch,” the species caught in nets and tossed overboard because they aren’t what the fishing vessel wants to sell. Bycatch accounts for up to 22% of the fish caught by net fishermen, according to Oceana, a nonprofit working to protect the world’s oceans. Wild Planet also focuses on smaller species — such as sardines, mackerel, and anchovies — in an effort to protect the ocean food chain. We tested several new Wild Planet fish and canned pasta, bean, and vegetable tuna salads that are sold in recyclable packaging that’s accepted in virtually all U.S. curbside blue bins.
According to the United Nations, 34% of human CO2 emissions each year are produced by growing, processing, and shipping food. The good news is that the share of food-related emissions has declined from 44% in 1990. This shows that significant progress is possible by changing eating habits and the way we grow, harvest, and distribute food. Bill shares his advice for choosing the most sustainable seafood options, suggesting that shoppers check the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sustainable Seafood recommendations. You can learn more about Wild Planet and its products at wildplanetfoods.com.
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This podcast originally aired on June 13, 2022.