Ads by Google Ads by Google

Tri Marine CEO submits comments to President's Task Force on illegal fishing

Tri Marine International believes that a new Presidential Task Force, charged with combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and seafood fraud should focus attention on “transparency, traceability, and enforcement”, saying that unfair competition from IUU seafood products negatively impacts the U.S. market.

 

The Obama Administration established the task force in June this year, co-chaired by the U.S. State Department and Commerce Department, and the panel is directed to report to the President within 180 days — from June 17 — with recommendations for the implementation of a comprehensive framework of integrated programs to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud that emphasizes areas of greatest need.

 

The deadline to submit comments on the task force was Tuesday this week and Tri Marine’s chairman and CEO Renato Curto was among those who filed a 4-page letter with the federal government, saying that the Washington state based company has a fleet of 23 purse seine and pole-and-line fishing vessels operating in the Pacific Ocean and delivering mainly to its processing plants.

 

Tri Marine’s fleet includes ten large purse seiners that are operating under the U.S. flag with licenses to fish under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty and in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The ten boats are based in American Samoa “where we have invested $70 million in the redevelopment of a large scale tuna processing facility,” he said.

 

Curto said the new plant — Samoa Tuna Processors — will be commissioned in December 2014 and, when operating at capacity, will provide 2,000 jobs and much needed economic activity in American Samoa.

 

He stressed that Tri Marine is strongly committed to ensuring the sustainability of all marine resources, especially those affecting its operations, and supports steps being taken worldwide to maintain healthy oceans.

 

“Not only is it the right thing to do, but our business depends on a healthy ecosystem,” he said. “To protect our investments, global food security, and the communities we help support, Tri Marine is determined to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) and seafood fraud around the world.”

 

“We are particularly concerned as these practices negatively impact the United States market. Unfair competition from IUU seafood products has become a serious issue in the United States,” he said and commended the establishment of the task force on combatting IUU. “In our opinion, the Task Force should focus on transparency, traceability, and enforcement.”

 

For example, supply chain customers, end consumers, and regulatory agencies should have access to key information about what species of seafood is being sold, where it was caught or harvested and processed, what methods were used for catch or harvest, and if the product has been treated with any additive, preservative, or external agent like carbon monoxide (CO) or tasteless smoke, cold smoke, clear smoke, or similar processes.

 

He said Tri Marine believes that industry participants have a strong role to play and that the federal government can do much more with its existing authorities and programs to eliminate the possibility that fish and seafood products caught or harvested by IUU activities are sold in the United States.

 

Tri Marine suggested some ideas to help identify IUU fish and seafood products for government enforcement, and to help the consumer avoid them. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture should strengthen the Country of Origin Labeling for Fish and Shellfish guidelines which are a provision of federal law.

 

He further pointed out that there are a number of existing enforcement tools and federal agencies that could be strengthened and streamlined to ensure that all participants adhere to the transparency and traceability systems and that IUU activities are addressed more directly, and with greater resolution.

 

For example, a provision of the federal Lacey Act is an effective tool for prosecuting those who try to import and sell fish or seafood products in the United States that are illegally caught, he said, adding that greater attention needs to be given to using this law more effectively and broadly.

 

“Strong transparency, traceability, and enforcement will set a level playing field for U.S. seafood companies, protect the consumer, and conserve a vital renewable source of a healthy protein,” he said. “Establishing clear funding channels to support transparency, traceability and enforcement is obviously vital to success.”