Tuna operator Via Océan, part of the Bolton Group, is being shut down, as it has faced increasing costs coupled with a decline in the demand for canned tuna.
The Concarneau-based company, originally Saupiquet, stated that it has been facing major difficulties since 2018 as operating costs have risen substantially and its access to yellowfin tuna has decreased – at the same time as a reduction in the demand for canned tuna has occurred over the past few years.
58 jobs are expected to be lost as the company is liquidated and its three seiners operating from Côte d’Ivoire will cease operation.
A representative of the company stated that there are no realistic prospects for an improvement in this market over the next few years.
Via Océan took delivery in 2021 of 67-metre purse seiner Via Alizé, built at the Piriou yard in Vietnam as an addition to its three older purse seiners. These are currently managed by Tri Marine, which became part of the Bolton Group in 2019
