La Réunion-based fishing company Sapmer is the latest seafood producer to join the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), which advocates for sustainable tuna fishery management and encourages the adoption of responsible fishing practices.
‘Sapmer‘s decision to become an ISSF participating company is an important commitment to science-based fishery stewardship,’ said ISSF President Susan Jackson.
‘We welcome Sapmer’s engagement with our conservation measures to make progress on sustainable tuna fishing practices.’
All ISSF participating companies are independently audited annually to assess their compliance with ISSF’s conservation measures, the results of which are published in the ISSF compliance report and the ISSF annual report. ISSF also publishes individual compliance reports for each ISSF participating company.
ISSF launched in 2009 with eight participating companies and today has 26 industry partners, including well-known brands produced and sold in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Pacific Islands and Asia.
The membership of PT Avila Prima, formerly an associate ISSF participating company, was recently terminated by the Foundation.
Established in 1947 in La Réunion, Sapmer operates nine tuna purse seiners in addition to its involvement in fisheries in the French Southern and Antarctic seas (TAAF). Sapmer also operates four longliners fishing for Patagonian toothfish and a potting vessel for rock lobster. Both the toothfish and rock lobster fisheries are Marine Stewardship Council certified.
