The Friend of the Sea (FOS) sustainability-focused certification program is implementing a requirement of 24/7 satellite monitoring of its certified fishing fleets.
The addition of the monitoring program is intended to increase consumer confidence in the sustainability of FOS products and provide stronger protection to associated fish stocks, the group said in a press release. The new Sea Satellite Monitoring Program (SMP) will allow constant monitoring for all 2,000 Friends of the Sea certified fishing vessels to ensure compliance with fishing seasons, authorized fishing areas, transshipment at sea, social accountability, and other certification obligations. The SMP monitoring includes onboard CCTVS, drones, and unannounced “augmented reality” audits.
“Satellite monitoring is an exclusivity of Friend of the Sea, making it the first and only certification monitoring each moment of the fishing activity, to protect the oceans from unsustainable fishing. Our aim is to make sure that all industrial vessels approved Friend of the Sea will by the end of 2023 have CCTVs onboard to allow Friend of the Sea verification of compliance with issues related to bycatch, fishing methods, endangered species, fish welfare, and social accountability,” Friend of the Sea Founder and Director Paolo Bray said. “New technologies make Friend of the Sea the most reliable certification in the seafood market.”
The program will cover seafood and omega-3 certifications certified by Friend of the Sea.
“Consumers and retailers looking for a certification carrying out not only annual onsite inspections, but also full-time monitoring of fishing activities, can now rely on Friend of the Sea for a safer sustainable choice,” Bray said.
Photo courtesy of Friend of the Sea