The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership has formally launched the Sri Lanka Fisheries Improvement Partnership (FIP).
The FIP brings together resources and expertise to support the Seafood Exporters Association of Sri Lanka in its efforts to meet international market sustainability requirements.
Sri Lanka is a major exporter of tuna for European markets. However, some of the Indian Ocean tuna stocks are declining as a consequence of high fishing pressure. Companies are working together in the FIP to assure long term supplies of tuna and to maintain the health of the stocks and ecosystems.
This is the first of several future FIPs on yellowfin and bigeye tuna in the Indian Ocean region that together will yield stock level improvements with a common set of expectations and rules for fisheries and markets alike.
Commenting on the launch of the FIP the Seafood Exporters Association of Sri Lanka said:
“The Seafood Exporters Association of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the importers of yellowfin tuna in the UK are commencing a FIP initiative with the guidance of SFP to enhance the management efforts of the Sri Lankan tuna fishery in order to ensure the sustainability of its resources for the benefit of Sri Lanka's future generations.
“The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Sri Lanka has expressed support for improvements via regulations such as banning all forms of purse seining restricting trawling, and adopting measures to curb IUU fishery within its EEZ.”
Jim Cannon, CEO of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, said, “In forming the partnership, we aim to encourage supply chain support and collaboration to deliver improvements in the fishery. The Fisheries Improvement Partnership is a way for producers and major suppliers to work together to help fisheries improve, and explain progress to major customers.”
FIP participants are New England Seafood, Seachill, Young’s Seafood, Le Lien, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and the Seafood Exporters Association of Sri Lanka.
