Tri Marine and Responsibly Caught Tuna April 23, 2014 Matt Owens Director, Environmental Policy and Social Responsibility
Summary Tri Marine Overview The ABC s of Tuna Sustainability Tri Marine s Policy and Approach Purse Seine Longline Pole and Line Processing Policy Engagement
Tri Marine Overview Vertically integrated, global tuna supplier Fishing Purse Seine (tuna) - 17 vessels Purse Seine (sardine, squid, mackerel) 4 vessels Longline- license holder for 30 vessels Pole and Line- 3 vessels and growing Trading Longstanding relationships with hundreds of contracted vessel owners worldwide Processing Owned in Solomon Islands, U.S., American Samoa, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru Contracted globally Commercial Services US, Singapore, Panama, Taiwan, Spain, Italy, Thailand
The ABC s of Tuna Sustainability What Species Some tunas are more abundant than others Where Region Different fishing grounds = varying abundance Each region has different management efficacy How Gear Type Different methods have different environmental impacts, e.g. bycatch Source: ISSF Status of Stocks Report
Tri Marine Tuna Fisheries Policy To support sustainable tuna fisheries, protect the health of the marine environment, and promote the well-being of coastal communities, Tri Marine: Pursues full compliance with local and international laws and regulations, and the conservation resolutions of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). Supplies and promotes tuna that comes from abundant, well managed fisheries that have minimal ecosystem impacts. Improves the scientific understanding of tuna thorough timely, accurate data collection and submission, and investment in collaborative research. Engages with policy makers to promote better tuna fisheries management. Incentivizes suppliers to institute bycatch mitigation measures. Supports fisheries improvement projects that bring troubled fisheries to a level consistent with internationally recognized sustainability standards. Provides for accountability by making this policy public, reporting on progress, and providing accurate product attribute and traceability information to customers. Avoid the Worst, Promote the Best, Fix the Rest
The Tri Marine Approach Core Compliance Local and Regional Regs ISSF Resolutions TM Terms and Conditions Fisheries Improvements Govt Engagement EP Longline SI FIP and EM Responsibly Caught Products MSC Certified FAD-free w/ COC verification Pole and Line
FAD-Free Purse Seine Responsibly Caught Skipjack and Yellowfin for Canning Avoiding the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) by fishing on free swimming schools reduces the catch of juvenile yellowfin and bigeye and sensitive non-target species like silky and oceanic whitetip sharks Bycatch Footprint - Skipjack* FADs Free Schools Ocean Catch (MT) % of Catch Bycatch Rate Bycatch Total (MT) % of Catch Bycatch Rate Bycatch Total (MT) Eastern Pacific 271,000 0.63 0.024 4098 0.35 0.008 759 Western and Central Pacific 1,647,000 0.56 0.017 15679 0.3 0.003 1482 Eastern Atlantic 208,000 0.81 0.089 14995 0.06 0.028 349 Western Atlantic 33,000 0.09 0.089 264 0 0.028 0 Indian 315,000 0.31 0.036 3515 0.04 0.008 101 * 2012 2,474,000 38,551 2,691
FAD-Free Purse Seine Increasing demand can shift fishing practices but creates risk of fraud Tri Marine assurances Vertical integration Robust policies and procedures Internal and 3 rd party auditing Full traceability w/ software solutions
Artisanal Pole and Line Responsibly Caught Yellowfin and Skipjack Revitalizing the Solomon Islands pole and line fleet Little to no bycatch Socioeconomic benefits
Environmentally Preferable Longline Fresh and Frozen Yellowfin and Albacore Bycatch mitigation Circle hooks No wire leaders or shark lines Monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) Direct offload at island bases Testing video monitoring to improve observer coverage Improving management Solomon Islands FIP Policy engagement at RFMO and local levels
Processing Promoting economic development in the Western and Central Pacific SolTuna, Solomon Islands Samoa Tuna Processors, American Samoa Supporting Eastern Pacific hubs Seafman, Ecuador Conservera de las Americas, Peru Gralco, Colombia
Policy Engagement Regional RFMOs Promoting stronger conservation and management measures FFA Improved MCS Limiting South Pacific albacore catch PNA Managing purse seine effort in the WCPO Local Solomon Islands Management plan for the Main Group Archipelago (MGA) Stronger licensing requirements and transparency
Thank you! Questions or Comments?