As do Mar brand tuna and mackerel on Monday became one of Italy’s first seafood products to be certified by Friend of the Sea. Generale Conserve, Italy’s second largest tuna company, produces the brand and recently moved its As do Mar production to its Olbia, Italy, facility, which operates on 100 percent certified green energy.
“Companies should follow Generale Conserve’s example and realize the importance of social responsibility,” said Paolo Bray, FOS executive director.
Bon Appétit adds fishermen to supplier network
Fishermen were among the 538 small-scale vendors Bon Appétit Management Co. added to its supplier network last year as part of its Farm to Fork program. With the addition, the Palo Alto, Calif., foodservice provider has reached its goal of attaining a total of 1,000 Farm to Fork vendors.
Bon Appétit’s policy is to buy at least 20 percent of the food served in its more than 400 cafés nationwide from vendors located within 150 miles of its cafés.
“Through our Farm to Fork program, we have succeeded in building a web of regional suppliers coast-to-coast in all climates and throughout every season,” said Bon Appétit VP Maisie Greenawalt. “This is the only way to ensure an economically and environmentally sustainable food system that supports both eaters and food producers.”
Island Seafoods changes name
Island Seafoods of Kodiak, Alaska, on Monday announced in an effort to align with its branding and sustainability standards, it has officially taken the name of parent company Pacific Seafood.
“Island Seafood has had a strong year and made a lot of positive strides, making it a natural time to make the name change,” said John Whiddon, Island general manager. “Pacific Seafood has been instrumental in helping Island Seafoods achieve success through strict quality controls and improved production techniques. We feel this name change will only further the company’s opportunities, as well as allow us to better serve our fleets and customers in Kodiak.”
Maldives vessel-monitoring system to be built
GeoEye, a provider of satellite and aerial-based geospatial information and services, last week announced that it won a contract from the Republic of the Maldives for a vessel-monitoring system for fisheries management and safety.
GeoEye will build the infrastructure for a country-wide vessel-monitoring system. The system will display vessel positions and consolidate fish catch reports from Osprey Personal Tracker terminals in near-real-time for review by the country’s fisheries managers. It will also provide two-way text communication by satellite for both routine and emergency purposes. Vessel positions and messaging will be tracked securely through a comprehensive web-based control system and database that includes oceanographic charts.
“Our cost-effective tracking and messaging solution is perfect for managing the large artisanal fishing fleets of the developing world,” said Gregory Hammann, GeoEye marine services operations and engineering senior director.
Creative Clam Challenge announced
Sea Watch International on Friday announced its fourth annual Creative Clam Challenge recipe contest. The Easton, Md., clam-harvesting and -processing company will once again bring the contest’s two finalists to the International Boston Seafood Show on 20 March.
The finalists’ entries will be judged by the Sea Watch R&D and marketing team in the company’s booth during the show, and the winner will be unveiled immediately following the competition. The champion will receive USD 2,500, with the runner-up taking home USD 1,000.
