Unimak scallops Friend of the Sea certified

The company - the Russian partner of Unimak Maritime Group - dredges for scallops in the Pacific Ocean (Kuril Island and Okhotsk areas) where this species is abundant. The use of dredges is authorised as the scallop population level is so high that the gear does not touch the seabed. Vessels are operated at 12 miles from the coast for driftnets and 1.2 miles from the coast for traps. Crabs and echinoderms are immediately released alive when they accidentally enter the traps.

Discards of scallop fishing tends to be zero, neatly under the 8% maximum allowed level of discard according to Friend of the Sea.

North Kurilsk Seiner Fleet Base is a sister company to Kamchatka’s Tymlatskii Rybokombinat, which together with Unimak, obtained certification for sockeye and pink salmon earlier this month.

"Unimak Maritime is proud of Tymlatski's double Friend of the Sea certification." comments William Turner, Unimak Maritime Group’s President. "This further recognition confirms once again our deep sense of responsibility and attention to environmental conservation.”