Sea Pact Year-End Recap: A New Chapter in Collaborative Leadership for Sustainable Seafood

By: Sam Grimley, Executive Director, Sea Pact

As we close out 2025, I am struck by how much Sea Pact has evolved, and how much opportunity lies ahead. This year marked a significant transition as we began implementing a new five-year strategy and moved beyond our historical grantmaking model toward deeper collective engagement in priority fishery and aquaculture sources. Throughout this shift, one constant has guided us: collaboration. When mid-supply-chain companies align around shared goals, their collective influence can drive meaningful change. Here are a few Sea Pact highlights from 2025.

Advancing a Strategy for Direct Impact

Early this year we formally announced Sea Pact’s transition to a more engaged, collaborative operating model. While our members’ decade of grantmaking created real momentum across fisheries, aquaculture, traceability, and human rights, we recognized that our next chapter required closer alignment with members’ sourcing realities and sustainability commitments.  Much of 2025 focused on refining the core elements of our new strategic plan that was shaped through extensive member input and external consultation, which we will publish in early 2026. The plan will set clear priorities for collective action, industry leadership, and measurable impact.

Sea Pact at Seafood Expo North America

Seafood Expo North America again served as a critical touchpoint for Sea Pact, with all twelve member companies represented. A highlight was Better Food Future: A Night at the New England Aquarium, which we co-hosted with Wholechain, Pepper, and Kvarøy Arctic (all Sea Pact Supporters). The event showcased products from Sea Pact-connected projects, including Costa Rican yellowfin tuna, invasive blue catfish, and MSC certified cold smoked tuna, while bringing together industry leaders committed to advancing transparency and innovation.

Across the Expo, Sea Pact members spoke on panels focused on human rights, traceability, EM adoption, sustainable tuna, climate leadership, and workforce resilience further demonstrating our engagement and industry leadership.

Advancing Electronic Monitoring (EM) Efforts: Costa Rica Tuna EM Pilot and NFWF Grant

Sea Pact’s shift to a more engaged, collaborative model is reflected through our involvement in an electronic monitoring and first-mile traceability pilot in the Costa Rican longline tuna fishery, led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Several Sea Pact members identified Costa Rica as a key sourcing region and began working closely with TNC, Wholechain, and other project partners to help shape the system from a market perspective.

The pilot integrates RFID tagging with electronic monitoring and logbooks to create a transparent, verifiable record from catch to consumer. Beyond environmental accountability, the technology improves labor visibility, strengthens quality handling practices, enhances quality tracking, and supports traceability compliance. Member involvement has ensured the system reflects real sourcing needs and can scale commercially. By year’s end, three Sea Pact members were selling tuna from participating vessels.

In addition to this EM project, Sea Pact also secured a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) grant to support advancing EM efforts in US fisheries, and we are excited to continue that effort in 2026.

Strengthening Alignment at the Leadership Level

In addition to the annual meeting, for the first time ever we hosted a dedicated CEO convening to discuss Sea Pact’s evolving strategy. Leaders from member companies explored how our focus on wild fisheries sustainability, social responsibility, and responsible North American aquaculture positions the coalition to navigate rising customer expectations and supply-chain complexity. CEOs underscored the value of coordinated industry action, reduced duplication, and shared leadership. The session reinforced strong alignment across member companies and laid important groundwork for the rollout of our five-year strategy.

Expanded Membership

2025 also saw continued expansion of our coalition. We welcomed new members, including Oddisea SuperFrozen, alongside long-standing leaders. With eleven mid-supply-chain companies now aligned, Sea Pact represents a meaningful segment of North American distribution and import. Our Member Board and working groups continued to mature, supporting both strategic alignment and leadership development across companies.

Looking Ahead

As we move into 2026, our focus is on finalizing and launching our five-year strategy, advancing sustainability efforts in priority fisheries, supporting members through shifting market and regulatory landscapes, and deepening our leadership convenings. We will also continue to invite new partners who share our commitment to impactful, collaborative action. Sea Pact has always been grounded in the belief that the middle of the supply chain can be a driver for positive change. This year demonstrated just how powerful that belief becomes when combined with thoughtful strategy and sustained collaboration.

A huge thank you to our members, advisors, partners, and supporters. For those not yet involved, we welcome the opportunity to explore how you can join us in advancing a more sustainable, transparent, and resilient future for seafood.