By Gary Anderson

December 3 - New agreement promises to serve sustainably caught and responsibly farmed seafood during Rio 2016 ©Getty Images Rio 2016 today signed an agreement that will see all of the seafood served to athletes, officials and media during the Olympic and Paralympic Games sustainably caught and responsibly farmed, it claimed.

The agreement comes after Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed by Sidney Levy, chief executive officer of Rio 2016, with both the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).

Organisers are expecting to serve more than 14 million meals during the Games.

Rio 2016 claims that the MoUs reflect its commitment to organising a Games that minimise adverse effects on the environment and promotes sustainable development, and they remain in effect until June 1, 2017.

"We are looking forward to working in partnership with MSC and ASC to support the respected work that they have done, and continue to do, with the fisheries and fish farms of Brazil," said Julie Duffus, Rio 2016 sustainability manager.

"This will ensure that our catering not only improves the local food industry but improves it to a standard that will leave a lasting, positive legacy post Games for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil."

The MSC is an international non-profit organisation that monitors the seafood market to ensure its sustainability worldwide and runs the only certification and eco-labeling programme for wild-capture fisheries consistent with the ISEAL Alliance Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards and the United Nations (UN) Food and Agricultural Organisation Guidelines for the Eco-labeling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries.

The MOUs signed between Rio 2016 and the MSC and the ASC will see local produce from Rio served during the Games ©AFP/Getty ImagesThe MOUs signed between Rio 2016 and the MSC and the ASC will see local produce from Rio served during the Games ©AFP/Getty Images
























"The MSC is honoured to be working with the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games," said MSC chief executive Rupert Howes.

"This partnership provides a great opportunity to promote and reward sustainable fisheries in Brazil.

"We will be working closely over the coming years with the State of Rio to encourage local fisheries into the third party assessment process and hope that fish and seafood caught from these and other fisheries that have met MSC's standard for environmentally responsible and sustainable fishing will be available for the 14 million meals that will be served during the Games."

The ASC is an independent non-profit organisation co-funded by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) in 2010 and it manages the certification of responsible fish farming across the globe.

The MoUs will see Rio 2016 commit to prioritising local certified seafood from the State of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil and will see it also support both organisations in their engagement of stakeholders and suppliers to promote certified seafood in the country.

"The Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee recognises a common vision with the MSC and ASC to conserve, protect, enhance and support natural resources, including biological diversity worldwide, and to support efforts to source and supply responsibly farmed and sustainable wild caught seafood for the 2016 Games," said Laurent Viguié, Brazil manager for MSC and ASC.

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