Phan Thiet City, Vietnam-based Hai Trieu Food, has received Friend of the Sea (FOS) certification.
The company operates a seven-vessel fleet primarily fishing for yellowfin tuna via handline and pole-and-line fishing methods. It received FOS certification after adopting fishing practices that focus on minimizing juvenile catch, bycatch, and impact on the seabed, making hook-size adjustments, using non-entangling fish-aggregating devices, preventing the bycatch of endangered species, and refraining from shark-finning. The company has also pledged not to fish in protected marine areas.
“From its creation, Hai Trieu Food has relentlessly worked to establish a sustainable fishing model that raises to high-quality international standards,” a company spokesperson said in a press release. “For us, it’s crucial to preserve the environment while meeting export market standards and customers’ requirements. Obtaining the Friend of the Sea certification is an important step towards these goals.”
Hai Trieu Food is the sixth company in Vietnam to earn FOS certification for sustainable fisheries and traceability, a certification designed to prevent overexploitation of species and to reduce the impact of fishing on the ocean ecosystem.
“As the global tuna market continues to grow, fisheries have an enormous responsibility. They are key players in the efforts to protect and preserve the ocean and its resources,” Friend of the Sea Founder and Director Paolo Bray said. “We welcome the certification of Hai Trieu Food as another step forward to achieve a more sustainable fishing industry.”
Yellowfin tuna is one of Vietnam’s most-important exports, with more than USD 300 million (EUR 264 million) in annual exports, including more than USD 51 million (EUR 44.9 million) in September 2021 alone.
“Tuna is an important export-oriented seafood commodity of Vietnam and the top three markets for Vietnamese tuna are the U.S., Italy, and Israel. The trend of consuming sustainable seafood is rising and growing faster, particularly since the onset of COVID-19,” Friend of the Sea International Advisory Board Member Amod Ashok Salgaonkar said. “Hai Trieu Company Ltd from Vietnam has successfully achieved Friend of the Sea sustainable certification, and we welcome them on board with us in promoting sustainable seafood.”
Photo courtesy of Hai Trieu Food
