Tuna vessel. (Photo: Anfaco)

Spanish tuna fleet adopts responsible fishing standard

SPAIN
Wednesday, July 27, 2016, 01:20 (GMT + 9)

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Isabel García Tejerina on Tuesday led the presentation of a new regulation promoted by the Organization of Associated Producers of Large Tuna Freezer Vessels (OPAGAC) and supported by AENOR for the creation of a Spanish standard for those ships intending to make their catches stand out as Responsible Fisheries Tuna (APR).

Opagac stresses that unlike other regulations that only consider the impacts of the fishing activity on the environment, the new rule ‘Responsible Tuna Fishing-Freezer Purse Seiners’ includes compliance with the nest practices in three areas of the activity: respecto to the fishing activity control and working conditions and safety of the 1,600 crewmen on board the 40 ships of Opagac fleet.

"With the achievement of this standard, the Spanish fishing sector, particularly its tuna fleet, takes a giant step for responsible fisheries worldwide," pointed out Julio Moron, the organization managing director.

Following the publication of the new standard (UNE 195006) last July 13, OPAGAC has begun to explore options for certification bodies to be able to qualify its compliance and in this way become the first fleet to have this certificate in the world. The association also intends to expand the visibility and implementation of the APR Standard through the European Committee for Standardization (CEN).

The standard requires the use of fish non-meshing aggregating devices (FADs) to avoid unwanted catches and training for chiefs and ship captains on the state of the fishery resources and the impact the activity can have on the marine ecosystem.

All this is confirmed with 100 per cent observer coverage on all vessels and the use of electronic monitors.

Regarding control measures, the standard states that fishing authorizations and relevant health certificates should be availbale in each country where the activity is carried out; a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) that has been approved and operating 24x7 must also exist; activity registration in the Electronic Journal of Fisheries and catch certificates are also contemplated.

Finally, from the point of view of social and labour responsibility, the APR Standard signals a series of socio-economic requirements that refer to the crew members’ contractual conditions, which are linked with Convention 188 of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and guaranteeing minimum wage remuneration, resting hours, medical care, prevention of occupational hazards and social security of the crews. The right to collective bargaining is also recognized.

UNE 195006 Standard was developed in AEN/CTN 195 Capture Activity, in collaboration apart from OPAGAC, with the sector organisations, businesses, Agriculture Secretariat, Food and Environment, research and union centres.

OPAGAC highlights that UNE 195006 Standard publication implies the end of a process for the organisation intending to boost activities after the development -- in collaboration with WWF -- of Improvement Fishery Project (FIP) as a standard for tuna sustainable fishing worldwide and Tuna Transparency Initiative (ITT).

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 ANFACO-CECOPESCA - Asociacion Nacional de Fabricantes de Conservas de Pescados y Mariscos-

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