◾️Harnessing East Asia’s Market Growth for Ocean Regeneration
Seafood Legacy’s strategic ambition is to ensure that East Asia’s continued economic growth strengthens—rather than undermines—the health and productivity of the ocean.

We envision a future in which the region’s expanding seafood markets serve as a powerful driver of ocean regeneration and responsible seafood production.

Through more than a decade of work advancing market transformation in Japan, Seafood Legacy has helped convene stakeholders, catalyze industry action, and translate sustainability commitments into implementation. Building on these experiences, we are now expanding our focus beyond Japan to regional collaboration across East Asia.

Working with partners who share a commitment to the long-term resilience of marine ecosystems and seafood supply chains, we aim to accelerate the transition toward a sustainable seafood system across the region.

◾️Why East Asia Now — Moving Beyond Fragmentation Toward Regional Harmony
Given East Asia’s scale—as the world’s largest seafood production and consumption region—aligning these efforts presents a significant opportunity. Achieving this requires the development of a regional architecture built on shared goals, interoperability of initiatives, and trusted cross-border collaboration.

Seafood Legacy therefore seeks to advance this regional transition through three strategic pillars.

1. Reframing Regional Engagement: From Fragmentation to Collective Stewardship

East Asia faces increasing geopolitical tensions. At the same time, the region shares common and urgent challenges associated with the seafood commodities—including declining fish stocks, marine ecosystem degradation, and labor safety (or rights) risks within seafood supply chains.

Addressing these challenges requires moving beyond zero-sum dynamics toward collective stewardship of shared marine resources.

Our approach seeks to foster a narrative of regional responsibility—one that recognizes the cultural, economic, and ecological importance of seafood across East Asia while promoting cooperation to safeguard these resources for future generations.

2. Building an “East Asia Model” that Maximizes Market Leverage

East Asia is not only at the center of critical challenges such as overfishing and human rights risks; it is also home to the world’s largest and fastest-growing seafood market, with enormous purchasing power.

By fostering stakeholder commitment, enabling pre-competitive collaboration, and supporting the institutionalization of responsible practices—while designing solutions that are region-fit—we aim to transform this market from a driver of resource depletion into a powerful engine for regeneration

3. Elevating TSSS into Asia’s Regional Platform for Collaboration

After completing more than a decade of development—roughly a full Chinese zodiac cycle—, the Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS) has evolved from a national dialogue forum into an emerging regional collaboration platform, bringing together industry, government, academia, finance, and civil society from across East Asia.

Through closer partnerships with regional CSOs and emerging leaders, we are expanding this platform to accelerate the implementation of solutions tailored to the East Asian context, working together with diverse stakeholders throughout the region.

◾️Core Partners Accelerating This Ambitious Challenge

QMCS (Qingdao Marine Conservation Society)
A leading Chinese CSO driving the sustainable seafood movement through engaging multiple stakeholders to identify challenges and seek solutions.

QMCS works to improve the environmental performance of fisheries and aquaculture, protect critical marine habitats, and conserve endangered species. The organization also promotes responsible seafood consumption among Chinese consumers.

In October 2025, QMCS and Seafood Legacy signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Sustainable Seafood Summit in Osaka(Learn More).
http://www.qmcs.org.cn/

O2(Ocean Outcomes)
Ocean Outcomes (O2) is an international NGO recognized for its work transforming fisheries and their supply chains towards more sustainable best practices.

O2 works across East Asia—including staff and programs in Taiwan and South Korea—to support high-risk, under-resourced fisheries. By partnering with and supporting those who live and work on the water—fishers, crew, communities and businesses—O2 fosters solutions that protect marine ecosystems, uphold human rights, and support livelihoods.

Seafood Legacy and Ocean Outcomes signed an MOU at the CASS Conference in Hawaii in October 2025（learn more).
https://www.oceanoutcomes.org/

Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition (HKSSC)
An industry-led coalition of seafood buyers and suppliers from Hong Kong, Macau, and across the regions, dedicated to mainstreaming sustainable seafood and accelerating market transformation through responsible procurement, industry collaboration, and government engagement for policy change.
https://hksustainableseafoodcoalition.org/

DearOcean
DearOcean is a Seoul-based consultancy bridging marine conservation, ESG strategy, and ocean education across the Asia Pacific. It helps businesses turn sustainability commitments into commercial strategy — from responsible seafood sourcing and blue carbon positioning to Korea market entry — while bringing the next generation closer to the sea through education and cultural storytelling.
https://www.dearoceans.com/

Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions (CASS)
A North American platform that has played a pivotal role in advancing market transformation in the seafood sector.

As of March 2026, more than 200 organizations across approximately 35 countries collaborate through the Alliance, working toward the goal that 75% of global seafood production will be environmentally and socially responsible by 2030.

In January 2025, Wakao Hanaoka, CEO of Seafood Legacy joined the CASS Board. In February 2026, the Alliance launched its first initiative focused specifically on East Asia: EAX (East Asia Exchange).
https://solutionsforseafood.org/

◾️Key Milestones

April 2026
Seafood Legacy convened and led a joint strategic meeting in Hakata, a historic gateway connecting Japan and Asia, with core partners from Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. The dialogue platform CASS EAX #3 announced next steps toward developing market transformation models tailored to the region.

March 2026
At the global seafood trade show Seafood Expo North America (SENA) in Boston, representatives from QMCS, O2, HKSSC, and Seafood Legacy participated in the panel CASS EAX #2, highlighting progress across East Asia and strengthening trust with global supply-chain stakeholders.

January 2026
The knowledge-sharing platform CASS EAX #1 was launched as a webinar series connecting CSOs and practitioners across East Asia. The initiative aims to overcome language and market barriers while addressing shared challenges such as fishery depletion and labor risks.

December 2025
Seafood Legacy and its core partners held a strategic meeting in Hong Kong, a major seafood trading hub in Asia, engaging local stakeholders and reaffirming the need for regional collaboration beyond individual company efforts.

October 2025
At the CASS Conference 2025 in Hawaii, the concept for East Asia Exchange (EAX) was unveiled—creating a knowledge-sharing platform to build a uniquely East Asian collaboration framework.

October 2025
At The Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS) in Osaka, the closing session focused on regional collaboration across East Asia, sharing challenges and best practices to accelerate solving issues.

September 2025
At Seafood Expo Asia (SEA) in Singapore, a panel discussion highlighted the economic benefits of market transformation and the importance of risk management in East Asia’s seafood sector.

April 2025
At the Our Ocean Conference 2025 in Busan, a multi-stakeholder roundtable brought together participants from Japan, Korea, and beyond to explore sustainable seafood supply chains across Asia.

January 2025
Wakao Hanaoka, CEO of Seafood Legacy, joined the board of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions (CASS), strengthening the integration of Asian perspectives into global standards.
https://seafoodlegacy.com/CASS

October 2024
At the 10th Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS) in Tokyo, Seafood Legacy announced its vision to expand Japan’s market transformation experience across Asia—beginning a new journey to turn Japan’s transformation into a legacy for East Asia.