SEAFOOD SAVERS ENGAGED ANOTHER PLAYER IN THE TUNA INDUSTRY
Another tuna fishery company signs a Memorandum of Understanding to join as Seafood Savers member. PT.Gilontas Fishery Indonesia is a newly established exporting company which is sourcing yellow fin tuna from Tolo and Tomini Bay waters in Indonesia. Gilontas is exporting its products to United States, United Kingdom and Netherland. The company regards itself as a new player in the business thus at this early process Gilontas aspire to embed sustainable fisheries at the core of its activities. Currently Gilontas is registering both of its fishing ground to the Seafood Savers program. Tuna produced by Gilontas is handline caught using artificial bait and a kite as part of its fishing method. The fishing activities are conducted by around 150 small fishing boats with sizes ranging from 1 to 3 gross tons. Gilontas had only been operating for less than six months in Banggai Kepulauan, where most of its fishermen resides, and at the first three months of its operation Gilontas was producing around 10 tons of yellow fin tuna.
Upon going through an Identification process against IIU Fishing criteria, Gilontas received several recommendations from Seafood Savers Secretariat that includes: 1) completion of licenses for fishing vessels and aggregating devices, 2) keeping complete records on bycatch produced through the use of the fishing gears, 3) registering migrant fishers according to local regulations, 4) provision of logbook for further report to the local authority, and 5) development of internal policy to ensure commitment of the whole supply chain toward responsible fisheries activities.
The recommendations was accepted and agreed through signing of the MoU where PT.Gilontas Fishery Indonesia was represented by Ms.Yensi Liuas Director of the company. In her remarks, Ms.Liu stated the company’s openness to work with WWF-Indonesia through the Seafood Savers program in order to establish a responsible and sustainable fisheries business. As a counterpart to the signing, Mr,Efransjah, the CEO of WWF-Indonesia congratulate PT.Gilontas Fishery Indonesia on its achievement and encourage the company on the for an intensive and cooperative efforts to comply with recommendations set out by the Seafood Savers Secretariat.
PT.Gilontas Fishery Indonesia will embark on a nine month Conditioning process to fulfill all the recommendations. Afterwards company will be evaluated and should it be considered to pass the evaluation, the company is entitle to undergo MSC Pre Assessment before proceeding next to Fisheries Improvement program activities.
Contact Seafood Savers team: Margareth Meutia mmeutia@wwf.or.id and Wiro Wirandi wwirandi@wwf.or.id