Whole Foods to Stop Buying Maine Lobster Amid Risk to Endangered Whales
CNBC reports Whole Foods Market (WFM) will “significantly scale back its Maine Lobster acquisitions due to a risk to endangered western Arctic right whales.”
A report from CBC News reveals Whole Foods (NASDAQ:WFM) will stop buying Maine lobster due to a risk to endangered western Arctic right whales.
“We continue to explore our options for reducing our impact on the species,” Whole Foods spokesman Andrew Smolski said in a statement. “We have met with experts to develop a plan to find a sustainable supply of Maine lobster. This is also part of a broader set of actions we’re taking to reduce our impact on the ocean and support ocean life and communities.
“Whole Foods Market, Inc. (WFM) does not profit from the sales of lobster meat as other retailers do — and we continue to work to ensure that our seafood is sustainable, humanely produced, and environmentally responsible. We look forward to continuing to work with our customers to provide healthier seafood choices.”
While Whole Foods’ Maine lobster acquisition will no longer be happening, the company is still keeping a close eye on the lobster industry. The company is an investor in the National Fisheries Institute, and Whole Foods’ CEO, John Mackey, has been a vocal proponent of sustainable fishing practices.
Mackey co-authored a report in 2015 where he discussed the issue with the Institute’s CEO, Craig Smith, who encouraged Mackey to continue buying lobster from sustainable sources. Since then, Mackey has been a vocal advocate for the fishing industry.
Mackey has even talked about the environmental benefits of purchasing lobster, as seen in a 2014 podcast where Mackey made an appearance on the CBC’s Marketplace.
