The company’s brand of canned seafood, Pan do Mar, is recognized for using ingredients exclusively from sustainable, organic, and artisanal sources.
Friend of the Sea, the global certification standard for products and services that respect and protect the marine environment, has announced the recertification of Conservas Antonio Pérez Lafuente for its persistent engagement with sustainable fishing practices. The company can thus continue to display the Friend of the Sea label on its canned seafood products.
Conservas Antonio Pérez Lafuente was founded at the beginning of the XX century in the northern Spanish region of Galicia. The company has maintained the family traditions in seamanship while successfully addressing the challenges of the XXI century, particularly regarding the conservation of the marine ecosystem. As a result, Conservas Antonio Pérez Lafuente decided to employ sustainable processes throughout its entire production chain to mitigate the environmental impact.
The company is best known for its canned seafood brand, Pan do Mar, which commercializes different tuna products. The Friend of the Sea recertification applies for the Thunnus Alalunga and Katsuwonus Pelamis species.
Following the Friend of the Sea certification guidelines, Conservas Antonio Pérez Lafuente only processes fish captured by sustainably verified fisheries. Tuna is caught by small boats, using traditional non-predatory techniques and highly selective fishing methods. These fisheries use the pole & line method, the most recommended to avoid overfishing and minimize discards by non-commercial catch sizes.
The company’s entire fishing and production chain are fully traceable and certified. Moreover, Conservas Antonio Pérez Lafuente has managed to reduce transport distances between the fisheries and the company’s factory, effectively reducing CO2 emission levels.
“We are aware of the threat that industrial fishing poses for the marine environment. Therefore, choosing the Friend of the Sea certification is our way of saying we’re strongly attached to sustainable practices that protect the ecosystem,” said a company’s spokesperson. “For us, it’s essential to ensure that all fish is caught responsibly, respecting the long-term sustainability of the marine resources.”
The Friend of the Sea certification scheme aims to increase customer awareness of the environmental impact of their seafood purchasing choices, encouraging them to prefer sustainable products.
“We’re pleased to see a company that remains committed to sustainability and works to create further awareness about the importance of responsibly managing ocean’s resources. For this reason, I celebrate Conservas Antonio Pérez Lafuente’s well-earned recertification,” said Paolo Bray, Founder, and Director of Friend of the Sea.
Sustainable seafood includes products that are caught or farmed using methods respectful of the long-term viability of the species, the integrity and health of the oceans, and the dependant communities’ livelihood. Certified products and services that carry the Friend of the Sea logo are subject to strict independent audits verifying environmental and social standards.
About Friend of the Sea
Friend of the Sea, a World Sustainability Organization project, awards sustainable practices in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Fishmeal, and Omega-3 Fish Oil. In addition, the organization promotes projects related to restaurants, sustainable shipping, whale and dolphin-watching, aquaria, ornamental fish, UV creams, and others. It is the only sustainable fisheries and aquaculture certification program recognized and supervised globally by European National Accreditation Agencies.
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