As per the release of Seafish, the authority on seafood, than 20 Tuna King boats in Sri Lanka have now achieved certification in the Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS). All of the newly certified boats are longliners catching tuna and mid-water species out of the port of Beruwala. On Tuna King boats, when fish is hauled, it is processed and stored by using an exclusive on board processing and control system that reduces wastage.
James Weerawardena, Tuna King’s owner, said that getting RFS certificate is one of the most important and credible sustainability schemes available for fishermen. He informed that one of the most valuable features of the RFS is that it is relevant to all species, not just tuna. He urge other business to support the scheme in order for the whole industry to improve and develop artisan fisheries, such as those in Sri Lanka.
The Responsible Fishing scheme was created by Seafish and the seafood industry in 2006, and it promotes good operational and environmental practices. Based on a Publicly Available Specification from the British Standards Institution (BSi), the scheme is an independent, audited assessment of the application of good practice by a vessel skipper and crew in their fishing operations. UK is the leader in promoting responsible and sustainable fishing practices domestically as well as internationally. The Dutch, Belgian and Danish fleets have also all expressed interest in developing a similar scheme.
