The Namibia subsidiary of the Nueva Pescanova has achieved FISH Standard for Crew certification, ratifying labour standards on board its ten fishing vessels. The audit has been carried out by Bureau Veritas.
Novanam has around 300 crew on its fleet of two freezer and ten fresher vessels operating from Lüderitz and Walvis Bay and the company has become one of the first companies in the world and the first in Namibia to be awarded the FISH Standard for Crew certification, a recognition that certifies fair and ethical labour compliance on board its fleet, which includes the three new fresher trawlers Lalandii 1, Novanam One and Novanam Two.
‘With the FISH Standard for Crew certification, we once again demonstrate that we are at the forefront on sustainability in its social aspect,’ said Edwin Kamatoto, Managing Director of Novanam.
FISH is the acronym for the four principles of fairness, integrity, safety, and health, backed by a series of 28 criteria that ratify the correct compliance with international conventions and labour legislation on board. The audit has been carried out by Bureau Veritas, after inspecting and evaluating the fleet under demanding standards and interviewing the crew.
‘The safety and health of our people and responsible and transparent labour relations are two essential aspects in our culture,’ said Nueva Pescanova Group CEO Ignacio González.
‘We are proud that Novanam has been one of the first companies in the world to receive a certification for compliance on board, attesting that our crew members have been selected and hired ethically, have decent working conditions, fair wages and that we are transparent in our internal processes.’
At present, FISH is also certifying fleets in Alaska, Iceland, and Papua New Guinea.
