Spanish consumers can now enjoy more Friend of the Sea certified hake following the conclusion of the audit of the whole Puerto de Celeiro fleet of 22 longline vessels that supplies approximately 30% of the hake consumed in Spain.
Certified vessels have implemented several sustainable fishing practices, such as tori lines for the prevention of accidental catches of sea birds and appropriate waste management policies.
To celebrate this important achievement, Puerto de Celeiro OPP 77 invited the media and regional government authorities to attend the early morning unload and auction. Galician Regional Fisheries Commissioner Rosa Quintana and Friend of the Sea’s founder and director Paolo Bray attended the event.
“Friend of the Sea is glad to acknowledge this additional step by the Puerto de Celeiro hake fleet toward verified sustainable fishing practices,” Paolo Bray explained.
“We hope that soon other Spanish and European fisheries will accept to be verified, correct their practices to reduce their environmental impact. It is fundamental for the future of the fishing industry to exploit marine resources in a more sustainable way”.
“Our hake is a quality product, sustainable and whose origin is recognized and accredited with the marked 1 to 1 of 100% of the species and we want to transmit this information to the final consumer,” said Eduardo Míguez López, adjunct director at Puerto de Celeiro.
"In addition, it is remarkable that the commitment of our ship owners along with the expected support from consumers to this programme will generate up to 6 new direct jobs in the fish market on busy nights, as expected this Monday, when we needed up to 12 additional operators.”
Puerto de Celeiro has recently been awarded the Alimentos de España prize by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment.
