PACIFICAL Launches Social Guidelines for its MSC Tuna Fisheries

OOSTERHOUT, The Netherlands, September 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Pacifical cv has launched today its Social Accountability Guidelines for all vessels involved in its MSC certified sustainable tuna fishery. The new guidelines are unique as it covers over 300 industrial fishing and transport vessels from more than 10 different nations, working in one of world's most complex and extensive seafood supply chains. The aim behind this initiative is to safeguard the welfare of the over 5,000 crew members living on board these vessels, which fish and distribute tuna in the remote waters of PNA Pacific Island Nations.

Purse seiner vessels fishing in the PNA waters for skipjack and yellowfin, and carrier boats transporting these tuna from transshipment ports in the region to processing centers, are operating in an area with a surface 40% larger than the United States. This means that crew members, often from countries like Kiribati, PNG, Indonesia, the Philippines, and China are on board these industrial vessels for very long periods of time, and usually spend limited time on land or with their families.

Working on board purse seine fishing vessels is very different to being employed in other sectors. Even on the newest and most technologically advanced purse seiners, fishing is physically demanding and not exempt of risks.

The multi-jurisdictional nature of fishing as well as the use of a commonly mixed nationality crew, adds a layer of complexity to the already difficult task of ensuring socially responsible employment standards are being sustained at sea.

The absence of any binding legal instrument, specifically formulated to ensure fair labor practices in the global fishing industry, which applies to all flag states (and the commercial fishing vessels under those flags), remains a challenging obstacle to the enforcement of workers' rights at sea. Pacifical has therefore developed these Social Accountability Guidelines to protect the rights of fishermen and ensure that they have decent, safe and meaningful employment on board fishing vessels.

"There is no sustainably managed fishery without the people who participate in it. We are excited to introduce our Social Accountability Guidelines, ensuring to millions of worldwide buyers of MSC certified tuna carrying the Pacifical logo, that not only are these products in line with the strictest ocean ecosystem conservation certification scheme, but also that the fishermen behind their MSC tuna products, are being treated fairly and according to a social guideline that safeguards their welfare." - Maurice Brownjohn, PNA Commercial Director.

These guidelines outline minimum requirements related to the employment; social protection, health and safety, food, accommodation, and medical care of fishermen at sea. The provisions of the Pacifical Guidelines are consistent with relevant international labor standards, such as the ILO Convention concerning work in the fishing sector (C188) and FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

These Social Accountability Guidelines are guided by:

• Decent Jobs - Personal Development and Social Integration
• Integrity and Fairness
• Health and Safety
• Traceability and Access to Information
• Transparency

Pacifical seeks to urge all vessel owners involved in the PNA MSC fisheries to start implementing these guidelines.

About Pacifical 

Pacifical is the global marketing company jointly set up by 8 Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) in 2011 to promote the PNA region and actively trade their MSC certified sustainably caught free school skipjack and yellowfin tuna to consumers around the world. Pacifical MSC certified skipjack and yellowfin tuna from PNA waters is available in 12 different countries around the world and all products carry the Pacifical logo as clear representation of the end market's commitment with the PNA region and recognition to those nations managing the tuna stocks in their waters on a daily basis. [http://www.pacifical.com] 

About the PNA
The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) control the world's largest sustainable tuna purse seine fishery. PNA Members, located within the Western Central Pacific Ocean, are Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. In 2011, the PNA skipjack tuna caught without using FADs was certified by the Marine Stewardship Council as sustainable, creating the world's largest sustainable tuna purse seine fishery. PNA yellowfin tuna caught without using FADs was added to the certificate in February 2016. The PNA countries together have 25% of the world tuna stocks in their waters. [http://www.pnatuna.com ]

Press Contact:

Cynthia Asaf

   
    www.pacifical.com
    Ph direct: +31-162-430520
    cynthia@pacifical.com