Del Pacifico Seafoods has earned the Friend of the Sea (FOS) certification for its wild-caught Blue Mexican shrimp.
The company received the certification for its use of artisinal fishing methods that minimize impact on the environment, FOS said in a press release. Del Pacifico Seafoods works in collaboration with local fishermen who use small skiffs called pangas, resulting in low bycatch rates and reduced fuel consumption per pound of shrimp. The pangas are offloaded within hours and their shrimp are flash-frozen and ready to ship within hours of netting, the company said.
The FOS certification requires training of company fishermen in FOS standards requiring full traceability. Fishermen employed by Del Pacifico Seafoods install solar GPS systems to their vessels to monitor shrimp catch locations, so consumers can directly search, by lot number, when and where their shrimp was caught.
“All of our fisherman are trained under the Friend of the Sea fishery standard that demands full traceability and keeping records of the very low bycatch that our vessels have. We also undergo an annual third-party audit to maintain the Friend of the Sea certification,” Del Pacifico CEO Rubén Castro said.
With sales through retailers including Whole Foods and Nuggets Markets, as well as Crowd Cow and Fulton Fish Market, Del Pacifico is able to promote its sustainable fishing practices and knowledge throughout the supply-chain and in the marketplace, Castro said. He said Del Pacifico, founded in 2014, hopes its dedication to small-scale producers provides an opportunity for artisanal fishermen to compete in the global seafood market. The company also dedicates a percentage of its sales to go to local fishing communities to establish social and environmental programs.
“When you buy Del Pacifico, you’re not only getting one of the highest-quality shrimp on the market, you are also supporting the fishers, their families, their community, and the water,” Friend of the Sea Founder and Director Paolo Bray said.
In 2016, Del Pacifico was the first shrimp company to receive Fair Trade certification, which is based on requirements in labor, trade, and responsible environmental practices.
Photo courtesy of Del Pacifico Seafoods
