Overseas
Beyond the financial statements required by the Italian Civil Code and the principles set by the Organismo Italiano di Contabilità (OIC), a new document is gaining ground — the sustainability report. It has become essential for companies that value environmental responsibility and, consequently, their social impact.
According to the European Directive 2022/2464 (CSRD), already transposed into Italian law, large public-interest companies — such as listed firms, banks, insurance companies, and large groups with over 500 employees — are required to publish this key document. Starting in 2026, the obligation will gradually extend to other enterprises, including those with more than 250 employees or meeting specific revenue and balance sheet criteria.
However, many companies choose to draft a sustainability report voluntarily. This choice enhances their corporate image and reputation among stakeholders, facilitates access to European funding and tenders, enables more conscious resource management, and strengthens competitiveness in markets increasingly sensitive to environmental and social issues.
In the fishing and seafood sectors, this topic is still relatively new. Today, companies in the industry are not yet required to report their environmental impact, but it is likely that this will soon change. Those who live by the sea understand better than anyone the value of sustainability, yet it is no longer enough to simply uphold it — soon they will need to demonstrate and communicate how they achieve it.
Fishing, processing, marketing, and aquaculture enterprises that decide to take this path can refer to international standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), whose criteria align with the United Nations 2030 Agenda — particularly goals related to responsible consumption and production, life below water, climate action, decent work, and sustainable innovation.
Preparing a sustainability report means being accountable: explaining how marine resources are managed, assessing the energy impact of operations, monitoring pollution, respecting seasonality and fish stocks, ensuring product traceability, and safeguarding fishermen’s working conditions. While this will entail additional costs, the long-term benefits will generate clear value and new market opportunities.
For the fishing industry, preparing a sustainability report — even on a voluntary basis — is an act of responsibility. It means becoming ambassadors of a more conscious maritime culture, one that combines tradition and innovation to ensure that the richness of the sea remains a source of life, work, and future for the generations to come.
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