Bangkok, Thailand-based seafood producer Thai Union announced plans to work with Derio, Spain-based ocean technology company Zunibal to upgrade the electronic monitoring (EM) systems across its tuna longline fleet located on the Indian Ocean.
Zunibal utilizes a cloud-based service that secures access to data, provides expert analysis, and relies on artificial intelligence (AI) tools to speed up reviews and support decision-making processes, the Spanish technology company said in a release. The company has more than 30 years of experience in marine technology.
"We chose Zunibal because it turns innovation into real results on the water,” Thai Union Group Director of Global Fish Purchasing Tony Lazazzara said in the release. “Its AI expertise and hands-on support will make our monitoring faster, smarter, and more useful, helping us protect tuna stocks and meet the standards our customers expect."
The standards for EM performance were developed in tandem by Thai Union and Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A.-based nonprofit The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to utilize end-to-end services. The technology was also guided by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.-based nonprofit International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) to include installation, technical support, cloud-based data management, AI-assisted reporting, and reviews. According to the release, the EM system implementation will help with Marine Stewardship Council compliance, which will maintain the current certification.
"Electronic Monitoring has to be practical and cost-effective to deliver lasting value,” Zunibal Chief Commercial Officer Ángel Martínez said. “By combining cloud technology, specialist review and our AI expertise, we reduce the time and cost of analyzing fishing activity while providing reliable evidence to support MSC and TNC requirements. Thai Union's choice shows the value of delivering all of this through one integrated service, fully aligned with the wider objectives of the monitoring program."
Alongside the EM technology deployment, Zunibal’s Kaohsiung, Taiwan-based office in Asia will provide support and training of crew, working with vessel owners and operators in partnership with U.K.-based seafood sustainability consultancy Key Traceability.
“It is great to have a trusted EM provider like Zunibal on board,” Key Traceability Director Tom Evans said. “Their integration of technology with real world experience is vital to ensure we are able to deliver our sustainability projects goals.”
Thai Union Group’s SeaChange initiative targets sustainability measures with goals for 2030, with plans to improve traceability and vessel monitoring. At Seafood Expo North America in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 15 March-17 March, Thai Union Group Chief Sustainability Officer Adam Brennan said the company is aiming for 50 percent of tuna fishing vessels to have Wi-Fi capabilities onboard by the end of 2026, and 75 percent to have internet by 2027. According to the release, Zunibal said Thai Union’s 2015 Global Tuna Sustainability Goals show more than 99.9 percent of tuna is now responsibly sourced, 95 percent is covered by the on-the-water monitoring program, and 100 percent is traced back to the vessel it was caught on. By partnering with Zunibal, Thai Union’s monitoring data collection capabilities can assess compliance with regional and international fisheries regulations to continue upholding sustainability commitments.
