Baja Marine Foods, a subsidiary of Tri Maine, and French deep-sea fishing company Sapmer have been certified sustainable by Friend of the Sea.
Baja Marine is the first Mexican company to earn the distinction. The purse seine vessels contracted by the company fish squid and sardines within 100 miles from the coast of Ensenada.
Bycatch is very low and almost less than 0.01 percent discards are generated. Both fisheries retain and use all bycatch, the majority of which is Spanish mackerel, mackerel and anchovies.
“Friend of the Sea certification represents an important added value for our products,” said Adrián Gutiérrez, Baja Marine general manager. “And we’re proud to be the very first Mexican company to have obtained this important acknowledgment.”
Sapmer’s purse seine fleets target yellowfin, skipjack and bigeye tuna from the Indian Ocean. None of the species are considered overexploited. In addition, Sapmer guarantees a specific traceability to demonstrate the sustainable origin of all its products, allowing any product to be traced back to the fishing operation.
“Sustainability is a universal value and I’m happy to see that more and more people worldwide share our commitment,” said Paolo Bray, FOS director.
