Join us! Make the commitment to “Feed Sustainable!”
By ‘walking the walk’ and leading by example we can increase consumer awareness and demand for sustainable seafood and accelerate market change toward shark-friendly alternatives.
The SAFE Sharks and Rays Sustainable Feed Working Group is poised to position AZA institutions as champions of sustainable seafood. We have an opportunity to place sharks and rays within the wider narrative on sustainable fisheries and to engage partners by taking collective action on sourcing policies in both animal feed and catering operations.
We are currently working with Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) and SAFE Shark and Ray partner organizations, along with seafood vendors and participants from the AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (AZANAG), to launch a pilot Business Commitment to “Feed Sustainable Seafood.” This commitment will help move our purchasing practices to only sustainably rated feed and/or alternatives for the animals in our care. In addition, we will be releasing a Communications Toolkit very soon to help participating institutions communicate this effort and survey findings to their audiences, in person and online.
We are partnering with the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) and SAFE Shark and Ray partner organizations, along with seafood vendors and participants from the AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (AZANAG), to launch a pilot Business Commitment to “Feed Sustainable Seafood.” This commitment is moving our purchasing practices to only sustainably rated feed and/or alternatives for the animals in our care. Our Communications Toolkit and Guidance Documents are available to help participating institutions communicate this effort and survey findings to their audiences, in person and online.
How to Join the Project!
- Contact the SAFE team if you are interested in assessing your seafood purchased for animal feeds by emailing: windykent@safesharks.org.
- Sign up to participate in our Informational Webinar on April 21, 2026 at 1:00pm ET.
- Make the commitment by signing this google form by May 15, 2026.
- Join the commitment Google folder. The shared Google folder will contain a guidance document, reporting templates, meeting calendar, and other resources.
- Identify a point of contact to lead the effort at your institution.
- Create internal goals: Each institution will define 3–5 internal goals tied to sustainable feed adoption, with measurable outcomes and owners.
- Develop an internal seafood feed sourcing policy.
- Participate in meetings (held every six weeks): Each meeting will provide support to help institutions in making and meeting the commitment and focus on progress, barriers, and resource sharing.
- Assess and report out on feed every two years. Each participating organization is asked to conduct biannual assessments of the seafood they purchase to measure and report on progress. We will use a standardized tool to evaluate sourcing, certifications, risk, and improvements.
- Communicate with your audiences using our toolkits on sustainable seafood.
Sustainable Feed Pilot Organizations
We would like to take this opportunity to thank and highlight the eleven ACP/SAFE partners that have pledged the business commitment in year 1, working towards the goal to “Feed Sustainable” seafood to the animals in their care. What they learn and experience in the upcoming year will provide a foundation for how we can all join in this commitment in the future.
Those organizations include: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Seattle Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, New York Aquarium/WCS, Audubon Aquarium of the America’s. Vancouver Aquarium, Aquarium of the Pacific, New England Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium and North Carolina Aquariums on Roanoke Island and Pine Knoll Shores.
Download the 2024 Sustainable Feed Report!
