By: Margareth Meutia
 
Jakarta (11/10) - WWF-Indonesia officially increases the number of cooperation with partner companies through a corporate partnership program for the improvement of fisheries, Seafood Savers (SS). CV.VALA from Berau-East Borneo, a provider of seafood products that has 21 members of fishermen, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement as well as Cooperation Agreement last week, as a part of the stages of Seafood Savers membership.
  

Photo: White shrimps (Peanaeus merguiensis). © CV. VALA / Dwi Basuki

CV.VALA has been operating officially since October 2011 by purchasing shrimp products and reef fish from a number of locations in Berau. The company differentiates itself from other seafood providers by emphasizing on responsible type of seafood products traded. By signing the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation Agreement, CV.VALA is fully committed in Seafood Savers scheme and only traded responsible seafood products, whether obtained naturally or through cultivation.
 
Banana prawn or so-called white shrimp (Penaeus merguiensis) is the type of commodity registered by CV. VALA in Seafood Savers scheme this time. The commodity is obtained from Kampung Buyung-Buyung, a village in the northern Berau District, also known as the estuary area.
 
Shrimp is one of the pretty much utilized sea commodities in Berau, East Borneo, as a rival of reef fish commodity that is also found plentiful in this area. Cooperation related with shrimp fishing activities conducted by CV.VALA is expected to provide experience and knowledge about shrimp fishing, especially from the aspect of sustainability, as well as to accelerate the inclusion process of this species in the global sustainable fisheries certification known as the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council).
 
CV. VALA currently produces an average of 3 tons white shrimps per month, and contributes about 0.00035% shrimps out of the total shrimp production from East Borneo province. According to the data of SIDATIK KKP 2012, the current production of shrimps from East Borneo province has reached an average of 20,000 tons.

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Notes:
Seafood Savers is a convention of producers, retailers and financial institutions, all of which owns a significant relation to the seafood business. Initiated by WWF-Indonesia, Seafood Savers held its inaugural meeting on October 2009 in which 6 producers and 3 retailers stated their support to the establishment of Seafood Savers. Until today, 5 producers and 2 retailers have sent their formal request to join with Seafood Savers and currently is undergoing process to achieve formal membership. This new initiative of WWF-Indonesia has been fully affirmed by DANIDA (Danish International Development Agency), Packard Foundation, and WWF-Netherland.

For more information about Seafood Savers: click here
For more information about MSC: click www.msc.org

Contact:
Margareth Meutia - mmeutia@wwf.or.id
Senior Corporate Campaigner - Seafood Savers
 
Wiro Wirandi - wwirandi@wwf.or.id
Corporate Campaigner Officer - Seafood Savers