Apr
29
Galicia, Spain-based cannery Frinsa del Noroeste has become the newest member of the International Pole Line Foundation (IPNLF), a non-profit organisation that operates globally and is committed to working with companies utilizing tuna which has been responsibly caught using the pole-and-line method.
Pole-and-line fishing is widely considered one of the most environmentally and socially desirable methods of catching tuna as the fish are individually hand caught with hooks and poles, resulting in virtually no discards, said IPNLF.
Launched in 2011 and registered in London, IPNLF has established branch offices in the Maldives and Indonesia. It has a two pronged approach: firstly, to promote pole-and-line fisheries worldwide; and secondly, to help maintain and further develop socially responsible pole-and-line fisheries.
Membership of IPNLF is open to all stakeholders involved in the pole-and-line tuna supply chain, from fishing associations to processors, to caterers and retailers, and all members are encouraged to engage in the fisheries development. Frinsa becomes the 26th member of IPNLF, and the second Spanish member.
Frinsa is currently ranked the eighth largest canned tuna producer in the world, processing more than 100,000 metric tons in 2014. It processes albacore and skipjack tuna caught by pole-and-line, while its factory in Ribeira is regarded as one of the largest and most efficient within the sector.
Jose Aller, head of sustainability at Frinsa, believes that being an active member of non-profit associations like IPNLF further strengthens Frinsa’s commitment to sustainability.
“The global demand for pole-and-line tuna continues to grow at an extremely rapid rate. Therefore, it is essential we do all we can to raise awareness throughout the sector and at every stage of the supply chain of the need to act responsibly. IPNLF will be a key ally to achieving this aim,” he said.
John Burton, chairman of IPNLF, has welcomed the opportunity to work closer alongside Frinsa.
“Sustainability in the fishing sector is a major concern which IPNLF shares with Frinsa. Together we will look to involve the entire supply chain in the setting up of measures that will lead to genuine improvements, ensuring the future of fishers and their communities,” he said.
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