Global Frozen Food (Thailand) Co Ltd has obtained Friend of the Sea (FoS) certification for its skipjack and yellowfin tuna.
The Thai company which processes and exports frozen seafood, uses fish which originates from stocks which are not considered to be overexploited and caught with selective fishing methods, in compliance with Friend of the Sea certification requirements.
Quek Oon Hwee, CEO of Global Frozen Foods, said: “Friend of the Sea audit requirements are very strict and we are proud to have successfully passed the audit. We will continue to rely on Friend of the Sea to improve our commitment to respect the marine environment and social accountability policies.”
She added that the company has an efficient traceability system in place, so that the sustainable origin of approved products is guaranteed. Specific labels on finished products show fishing gear, catching zone, catching duration time and vessel name.
Annual tuna production is increasing in general as the number of large purse seining vessels operating in the Pacific Ocean continues to grow, creating international concern about the future sustainability of tuna stocks across the Pacific region.
Skipjack tuna fishing has grown the most in the Pacific Ocean during the past decade, up by 50% to reach 1.49 million mt in 2013, up from 1 million mt in 2004.
Yellowfin tuna production, however, has slowed across the Pacific Ocean during the same time frame, falling to about 270,000 mt in 2013. Last year’s total is a decrease of 31% from the record Pacific Ocean yellowfin catch of 390,000 mt recorded in 2012.
Global Frozen Food originated in Singapore in 1981 and by 1993 had shifted its plant to Thailand in in order to expand its operation. Its main products are Frozen Yellowfin Tuna, Albacore and Swordfish.
