Holland America Line has earned Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification, becoming the first and only cruise line to receive this credential. The company now serves only fresh, certified sustainable and traceable wild Alaska seafood on its Alaska sailings. Independent audits confirmed that all six Holland America Line ships that operate in Alaska meet the RFM standard.
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“We applaud Holland America Line for its long-standing commitment to sustainable seafood and its hard work to become the first cruise line to offer RFM certified Alaska seafood,” said Tomi Marsh, an Alaska seafood harvester and CSC RFM board member. “Alaska fisheries are an integral part of coastal community culture. They are carefully managed with local input and a priority on sustainability in a changing ocean to ensure these fisheries remain available for future generations. Holland America Line’s support for RFM highlights its dedication to sustainability and to promoting local values.”
RFM is a third-party certification program for wild-capture fisheries that aligns with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. That code represents internationally recognized standards and best practices for wild fisheries. The RFM ecolabel provides traceability information, making it clear to consumers where the seafood was sourced and how it moved from ocean to plate.
© Holland America Line
“Holland America Line has shared Alaska adventures with our guests for 75 years, and supporting sustainable fishing and local business is an important commitment for us,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “We’ve pledged to buy and serve only local, sustainable, fresh seafood on Alaska voyages. Achieving RFM certification is a key milestone in our ongoing commitment to sustainability shared by our guests and Alaska’s fishing families.”
Holland America Line recently strengthened its partnership with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute to further promote sustainably sourced Alaska seafood, which has long been a feature of the cruise line’s immersive culinary programming. On its Alaska cruises, the line serves large volumes of locally sourced seafood annually, including more than 2,000 pounds of Alaska salmon, 1,000 pounds of Alaska cod and 800 pounds of Alaska halibut on a typical sailing season. This year the cruise line introduced new seafood dishes across the Dining Rooms on all six Alaskan ships, such as an Alaskan salmon chop and roasted fennel-crusted Alaskan halibut, highlighting fresh local ingredients and sustainable sourcing practices.