Kaohsiung, Taiwan (November 22, 2021)- FCF Co., Ltd. (FCF), Bumble Bee Foods, and KangTai (Key Traceability Asia) have recently entered another Longline Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP)－ entitled the: Atlantic Ocean tuna – longline (Bumble Bee/FCF) fishery (AO FIP) with the aim of meeting a rising global demand for sustainably certified. The AO FIP focuses on maintaining or recovering healthy longline caught stock levels, promoting a systematic and transparent approach to fisheries conservation and management in flag states, along with strengthening governance and compliance via enhanced monitoring within the relevant regional management framework. The AO FIP continues a trend of rolling out the implementation of private-sector based activates to improve longline tuna fisheries in Atlantic oceans and move the fishery to enter the certification process under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard by 2026.
The AO Longline FIP fishery targets albacore (Thunnus alalunga), bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) caught by vessels under the flag of Taiwan, Namibia, Panama and Belize that are licensed to fish in the Economic Exclusive Zones (EEZs) of Namibia and High Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, more specifically in FAO Area 34 (Atlantic, Eastern Central), Area 41 (Atlantic, Southwest) and Area 47 (Atlantic, Southeast).
Three major objectives of the AO FIP fishery are:
Sustainable Fish Stocks – Ensure tuna and other primary species catches across the Atlantic Ocean do not exceed mandated sustainable levels.
Minimizing Environmental Impacts – To promote an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management.
Effective Management – To strengthen governance systems within cited Flag States, and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna.
According to Marine Stewardship Council definition, “sustainable fishing” means leaving enough fish in the ocean and protecting habitats and threatened species. By safeguarding the oceans, people who depend on fishing can maintain their livelihoods. FCF believes that the establishment of these FIP fisheries is vital to ensuring a sustainable tuna supply chain and it will allow the continuous provision of socially responsible, traceable and high quality seafood to our valued customers.
