Philippines-based RD Corporation, a major tuna supplier and processor, had made a commitment to catching MSC-certified free-school skipjack and yellowfin tuna.
RD recently signed a memorandum of understanding with global tuna marketing company Pacifical, which represents the eight countries belonging to the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), that will see it increase its supply of MSC-certified tuna.
“This new cooperation is a major step forward in making truly sustainably-caught canned tuna more widely available in the European Union market, and hopefully also in the United States,” said Pacifical CEO Henk Brus.
The agreement is expected to produce more than 1,000 containers of MSC-certified canned and pouched tuna from Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. The containers will be shipped to E.U.-based importers, retailers, foodservice companies and food processors, according to Pacifical.
“This deal is of major importance not just for Pacifical, the PNA and our people of the Pacific, but for the entire tuna market,” Pacifical said in a statement
RD accounts for an annual purse seine tuna catch of around 90,000 tons, according to Pacifical.
“Taking into consideration the recent decision by our board of directors to reduce our service fee to two percent, along with the zero duty possibility, this agreement will most likely make MSC [certified] tuna available at more competitive prices within the E.U. market, making it more attractive to a wider group of buyersm” Pacifical said.
