ISABEL, a Spanish tuna brand owned by Bolton Food, has committed to certifying 100 percent of its tuna products with the AENOR Conform Responsibly Fished Tuna certification seal.
The certification, which is also known as APR, its Spanish acronym, guarantees that tuna is fished by vessels certified under UNE 195006, which includes labor and environmental standards, and which comes from a comprehensive fishery improvement program.
“This certification guarantees comprehensive traceability, from deep-sea fishing to canning in canning plants, and offers guarantees that vessels are in optimal and safe conditions to go out to sea and control of the fishing activity of the fleet 365 days a year, all key elements in the fight against illegal fishing and abusive working conditions,” Bolton Food said in a press release. “ISABEL's commitment to the most demanding official certification systems is part of its sustainability strategy, based on four main pillars (fishing, people, production, and nutrition). Faced with voluntary practices that do not offer real and verifiable guarantees, the APR certification is a commitment to offer a frame of reference to consumers, and has been an active part in the development of control measures that compromise all fishing activity.”
ISABEL launched its first products carrying the AENOR/APR eco-label in June 2019. They included tuna in vegetable oil and light tuna in extra virgin olive oil. The larger commitment made by ISABEL is part of the brand’s “responsible quality” corporate social responsibility program, which it launched in 2016. The program commits the brand to quality in respect for the environment and for people throughout the supply chain, from sea to table, according to Bolton.
Milan, Italy-based Bolton Food, which owns and operates the brands Rio Mare, Palmera, Simmenthal, Saupiquet, Pecheurs de France, Isabel, Cuca, Massò, Cardinal, Sardines Rober,t and Petreet, did not say whether it would seek AENOR/APR certification for additional products in its portfolio. But Bolton Food General Director Óscar Vicente said sales to-date of its APR-certified seafood products “endorse consumers' growing awareness of responsible purchasing and their support of this unique seal in the world, which ensures compliance with the social and labor rights of seafarers while guaranteeing a responsible fishing activity.”
“Being leaders in this sector gives us the opportunity to contribute to a social and environmental transformation,” Vicente said. “With this commitment, we not only monitor compliance with good environmental practices, but also ensure respect for the rights and socio-labor conditions of all people who work at sea. It is a 360-degree commitment of enormous value for us, because we firmly believe that it helps us to improve our company, the protection of the environment and that of workers, while offering consumers responsible purchasing options, with an excellent reception for their part.”
Earlier this year, it was announced that the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions is studying the APR certification’s approach to social issues, as it seeks to improve the labor practices of the companies from which its members’ partners source their seafood.
And in early September, Thai Union Group, AENOR, and Global Seafood Assurances (GSA) announced a collaboration “to create efficiencies across their individual, respective and proprietary programs."
Photo courtesy of ISABEL/Bolton Food
