Main European supplier Sovapec & Maromega obtains Friend of the Sea certification.
The Friend of the Sea certification is becoming more and more an industry standard in the fishmeal and fish oil industry. While waiting for the outcome of the audit at the Peruvian anchovies fishery, more players have seeked and some obtained the FOS seal of approval. Omega Proteins Inc. international market leader for Omega3 oil pills was the first brand obtaining the recognition, followed by Le Gouessant, one of the biggest French animal feed companies.
Sovapec & Maromega, part of the Kabbage Group is a main supplier of fishmeal and fish oil to Europe and the international market. It sources exclusively from Friend of the Sea certified Morocco’s sardines and mackerel, fished selectively with purse seiners on a stock which is considered by FAO as not overexploited. “This certification is important for us as it reassures our customers and distinguishes our product from others with origins not certified as sustainable,” comments Abbouh Malainin Mohamed, director of Sovapec & Maromega, “We also feel the responsibility to influence the Morocco fishing fleet to maintain compliance to the requirements”.
Friend of the Sea’s criteria for aquaculture are now requiring companies to use only feed certified sustainable by Friend of the Sea, when the specific species’ feed is already available on the market (currently seabream, seabass and sturgeon available). Friend of the Sea invites all Organic/Bio certification schemes to apply the same restrictive requirement to their companies in order to maintain a standard level of requirement industry-wide.
