Sardines and mackerel from Moroccan fish cannery, Damsa, have obtained Friend of the Sea certification.
Damsa sources sardines and mackerel from the Eastern Central Atlantic stock. Purse seiners and pelagic trawlers do not impact the seabed and they are very selective. Fishing gears comply with local regulations, both for net and mesh size, and the fish are caught 10-15 miles from the shore so that spawning and nursery grounds are not disturbed. All fishing vessels are regularly registered and a fishing authorisation is issued by the local maritime authority before and after the fishing trips.
A comprehensive traceability system is in place to guarantee that all Friend of the Sea requirements are fulfilled and that no mixing occurs between certified and not certified origins.
“We share the same sustainability vision of the Friend of the Sea program,” said Bennani Kemmoun Badr, general manager of Damsa. “Friend of the Sea has become a leading standard for sustainable seafood and this recognition provides an important added value for our customers”.
Damsa is a fish cannery that belongs to Copelit Group, one of the main integrated groups in Morocco that acts in fishing and processing of pelagic fish (canning, freezing, fishmeal and fish oil). The facility is located few metres away from the port of Laayoune, one of the most strategic fishing ports in Morocco.
