Three companies conducting tuna purse-seine fishing in the Federated States of Micronesia have obtained Marine Stewardship Council certification.
Liancheng Overseas Fishery (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd (SZLC); Caroline Fisheries Corporation, Inc.; and DaYang Seafoods Ltd. – backed by the Federated States of Micronesia National Oceanic Resource Management Authority (NORMA) –completed a 12-month independent assessment by MSC assessment body Control Union Co. and obtained required scores to earn certification.
The MSC certification is a milestone for Micronesia, according to NORMA Executive Director Eugene R. Pangelinan.
“It is a substantial achievement for the nation and its industry to be able to supply sustainably-caught tuna products for consumers around the world while working on the nation’s own sustainability interests in line with the Marine Stewardship Council,” he said in a statement.
The achievement signifies the nation being able to join in “as leaders of the sustainability efforts around the world fisheries to supply tuna products to consumers globally,” he said.
“The nation has become a leader in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing takes pride in its efforts for building a robust and sustainable fishery,” Pangelinan said. “The continued efforts and achievements promise a better future for the lives of future generations for the people of the Federated States of Micronesia and a way forward for global sustainability movements.”
Caroline Fisheries Corporation is based in Pohnpei, Micronesia, and operates six purse-seine vessels, a net repair yard facility, and a shipping agency. The statement said one of the company’s key strategies is to promote sustainable fishing practices.
Da Yang Seafoods Ltd. is a purse-seine fishing company base in Kosrae, Micronesia, operating six purse seine vessels, a 1,500-metric-ton cold storage facility, and a tuna-loin processing plant.
Liancheng Overseas Fishery (Shenzhen) Co. operates fishing, land-based transshipping, and seafood processing operation operations in Pohnpei, Kosrae, Yap, and a boat repair hard in Chuuk. Liancheng has been operating in Micronesia for over 20 years, with current boat certifications in Micronesia, The Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Cook Islands. It has pursued a market strategy based on MSC certification.
The fishery must undergo annual audits to prove that fish stocks are maintained sustainably, in addition to implementing robust harvest control rules to manage the fishery, according to the MSC release.
Photo courtesy of Rich Carey/Shutterstock
