Maldives’ Ocean Fresh Pvt Ltd has received Friend of the Sea certification for its yellowfin tuna caught using the handline method.
The company’s fleet operates 200 to 300km offshore in the Indian Ocean waters using the handline fishing method, which is becoming an important alternative to pole-and-line fishing in the Maldives as larger 30kg average yellowfin tuna has a higher market value than pole-and-line caught skipjack.
Ocean Fresh’s fishing season peaks from November to March and the same traditional pole-and-line vessels have now been equipped with cold storage and handlines.
All vessels are to carry mandatory logbooks reporting discard of less than 1% consisting mainly of skipjack tuna and are instructed to de-hook endangered species which might be caught accidently.
Fish trimmings are collected in a separate room and are used for fish meal, while plastic waste is appropriately disposed of.
Ocean Fresh also holds Dolphin-Safe and Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) certifications.
