RESPONSIBLE INVESTING GETTING UNDERWAY 2023 ASSESSMENT OF ASSET MANAGERS’ APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS IN SEAFOOD-RELATED INVESTMENTS

The 2023 assessment by WWF reveals that while 31% of the 42 analyzed asset managers showed minor or moderate improvements in managing nature and biodiversity risks, specific action regarding the seafood sector remains low. Only one asset manager has publicly disclosed seafood-specific E&S expectations for investee companies. The report highlights significant gaps in expectations regarding sustainability certifications and supply chain traceability. It notes a positive trend in Japanese asset managers' progress, likely driven by national biodiversity and IUU fishing regulations. WWF recommends that asset managers formalize biodiversity risk statements into actionable policies, set time-bound sustainability targets, and develop targeted 'blue' financial products to support a sustainable blue economy.

• A minority of assessed asset managers showed progress in managing E&S risks compared to the previous year, with 13 (31%) demonstrating "minor or moderate improvements against last year’s baseline."
• There is a significant gap between general biodiversity acknowledgments and seafood-specific policies; while 83% of asset managers recognize biodiversity risks generally, only 19% identify the seafood sector as high risk, and only one manager publishes specific E&S expectations for seafood companies.
• Asset managers generally lack specific requirements for investee companies regarding sustainability certifications and traceability. Only 5% expect companies to obtain certifications like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), and only one manager highlights supply chain traceability in public reporting.
• Engagement with seafood companies remains largely ad hoc and lacks transparency. Although 92% of managers engage on general E&S issues, only 12% disclose specific engagement with seafood companies, and none of those disclose the progress of these engagements over time.
• The development of 'blue' financial products is increasing but remains limited. While 86% of managers offer general ESG products, only 12% explicitly include seafood in this scope, an increase from three managers in 2022.
• Japanese asset managers demonstrated the most consistent improvement in the assessment, with seven of the 13 improving managers (53%) and four of the six moderately improving managers (66%) being Japanese, likely influenced by national biodiversity strategies and the 2022 Act on Ensuring the Proper Domestic Distribution and Importation of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants.

APA

Nanninga, R., Garg, A., & Lynch, L. (2024). RESPONSIBLE INVESTING GETTING UNDERWAY 2023 ASSESSMENT OF ASSET MANAGERS’ APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS IN SEAFOOD-RELATED INVESTMENTS. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/154/7gjie6zfb1_Getting_Underway_2024_1406_FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Nanninga, Roxanne, Akshat Garg, and Lauren Lynch. RESPONSIBLE INVESTING GETTING UNDERWAY 2023 ASSESSMENT OF ASSET MANAGERS’ APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS IN SEAFOOD-RELATED INVESTMENTS. WWF International, 2024. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/154/7gjie6zfb1_Getting_Underway_2024_1406_FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Nanninga |first1=Roxanne |last2=Garg |first2=Akshat |last3=Lynch |first3=Lauren |title=RESPONSIBLE INVESTING GETTING UNDERWAY 2023 ASSESSMENT OF ASSET MANAGERS’ APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS IN SEAFOOD-RELATED INVESTMENTS |publisher=WWF International |date=June 2024 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/154/7gjie6zfb1_Getting_Underway_2024_1406_FINAL.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{nanninga2024responsible, author = {Nanninga, Roxanne and Garg, Akshat and Lynch, Lauren}, title = {{RESPONSIBLE INVESTING GETTING UNDERWAY 2023 ASSESSMENT OF ASSET MANAGERS’ APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS IN SEAFOOD-RELATED INVESTMENTS}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2024}, month = jun, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/154/7gjie6zfb1_Getting_Underway_2024_1406_FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }