3 Pillars

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SIFF Capital Management LLC (“SCM”) is committed to promoting and supporting the continued practice of responsible fisheries and fisheries management in Canada. We proudly note that Canada consistently ranks among the strongest countries globally in this regard.1

We will continue to work with our investee companies and other stakeholders to achieve continuous improvement and help provide global leadership when it comes to strong fisheries, oceans management and coastal governance practices.  This will include generating more opportunities for industry-science collaborations where harvesters can more easily gather data and samples from the field, and also contribute their qualitative observations in a structured way, supporting the development of more complete knowledge and the advancement of marine ecosystem science.

Science, Strategy, and Wisdom – SCM recognizes that strong fisheries management and oceans management requires a combination of sound and robust science, strategic insight and vision, and the wisdom to apply the right balance to precautionary approach based decision-making.  We welcome all opportunities for us to make a positive contribution to the management process or the body of knowledge underlying it, and we actively encourage and try to help others to do so as well.

We genuinely care for and are truly committed to the long-term wellbeing of our marine ecosystems. We firmly and vehemently oppose the parties regularly maligning commercial fisheries and Canada’s dedicated fisheries management professionals solely to further their financial and personal lifestyle objectives.

The Inshore Fleets – Our values and our business model align our interests closely with those of the owner-operated “small boats” that comprise Canada’s inshore fleets, as well as the small coastal communities that have supported them for centuries.  SCM is committed to supporting fishing practices that reflect the ecological stewardship and technological restraint practiced by the inshore fleets, and to supporting their continual improvement in ecological responsibility, marine biodiversity promotion, and environmental impact.

We are equally committed to promoting greater public awareness and understanding of the important distinctions between inshore and offshore fleets, including their ecological and socioeconomic impacts.

Marine Ecosystems – Marine ecosystems are a dynamic and extremely complex environment that frequently are presented in a misleadingly oversimplified manner in order to manipulate public perceptions and falsely attach the blame for biological occurrences on fisheries managers or the fishing industry.  We will continue our efforts, alone and with our partners, to help improve public understanding of responsible commercial fisheries and their role in achieving more healthy and bio-diverse marine ecosystems.

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SCM’s most important core value is summarized in one word – Respect.   Respect for marine ecosystems, for the principles of science based fisheries and ecosystems management, and for sustainability and preserving aquatic resources for future generations.

Most fundamentally, we respect the coastal communities whose residents have cared for marine ecosystems for generations and who hold what is arguably the greatest stake in maintaining healthy oceans well into the future.

Our team’s key values also include honesty, bravery, humility, and the understanding of others.

We believe in honest and respectful dealings, and we recognize and value integrity and just behaviour in others.  We believe that all people deserve the chance to live a dignified existence.

We abhor pretence, deception, injustice, and the cruel exploitation of humans or other animals.

Doing Good– Just as a rising tide lifts all boats, we believe that socially and ecologically responsible attitudes can be contagious. Our hope is that through proactive leadership and example, we can help to foster an environment within the Maritimes’ fisheries sector where doing ecological and social good for marine ecosystems and communities becomes the common standard.  As such, we will always welcome opportunities to collaborate with our peers knowing that together we can be stronger and accomplish more good for society and the environment, while delivering fantastic seafood to discerning consumers who appreciate our way of thinking and doing business.

Aboriginal Communities and Culture – SCM’s senior management holds longstanding personal and business ties to Aboriginal communities in the Maritimes.  We are very well acquainted with Aboriginal culture, traditions and history, and have invested great amount of time in conversation with Traditional Elders, studying Treaty documents, and conducting our own analysis of colonial and post-colonial interactions between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals in Canada and the U.S. We value greatly our relationships with Aboriginals, we respect Aboriginal Treaty and Aboriginal Title rights, and we welcome opportunities to collaborate and strengthen our ties with Aboriginal communities.

Community Support – We proudly contribute to numerous initiatives aimed at improving marine science and the understanding of marine ecosystems, the promotion of biodiversity in marine ecosystems, and the personal wellbeing and development of underprivileged youth.

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During recent decades, the seafood sector has often failed to keep pace with improvements in quality, food safety, and supply chain accountability adopted across the rest of the food industry in developed nation economies.  In recent years, several investigative reports have brought to light some of the deceptive practices, such as mislabelling of seafood, that occur far too often throughout seafood supply chains in all corners of the globe.

We applaud the work of those calling for higher standards and more accountability, recognizing that for this to be achieved in an economically feasible way, it is essential for consumers to reward sector participants with premium pricing for premium caught seafood.  We also recognize the role that we as private investors can play in strengthening supply chains, building brands, and educating consumers regarding sound science and great seafood.

SCM, through its investment and business strategies, aims to build an ocean to plate supply chain that delivers seafood that is of the highest quality, is harvested in a transparent and ecologically responsible fashion, under a system where traceability is precise, and authenticity is absolutely assured. SCM will work with management teams of its investee companies to address deficiencies, implement technologies, translate scientific information into forms suitable for public digestion, and firmly instil a philosophy of quality, accountability, and responsibility to consumers and to the marine environment.

1 Canada Seafood Market Report – Íslandsbanki