The Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested branding program enables market differentiation of Gulf of Maine seafood products that meet important criteria around traceability and responsible harvest.
The Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested branding program motivates improvements in the sustainability of our seafood industry by capitalizing on consumer preferences for responsibly harvested products that are from a known place. Research has shown that consumers prefer to know where their seafood food is harvested and are concerned with the sustainability of seafood. The program empowers consumers to support seafood products they feel good about by identifying products that meet the standard's criteria with the Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested seal.
All of the products that carry the Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested seal are verified by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute against criteria around responsible harvest. Further, all products achieve third-party verification that products are traceable to the Gulf of Maine region.
CULINARY PROGRAM
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) Sustainable Seafood Culinary Partners Program provides restaurant proprietors with clear and concise information around current Gulf of Maine seafood sustainability issues. Establishments that participate in the Culinary Partners program have committed to serving and promoting locally-sourced, responsibly harvested seafood from the Gulf of Maine region. In addition, these Culinary Partners participate in sustainable seafood education seminars, are provided with objective seafood information, and set annual goals around improving the sustainability of their business operations. The Culinary Partners program enables consumers to recognize and support restaurants that are striving to promote the long-term sustainability of fishery resources.