Actemsa S.A., a Spanish importer-exporter specializing in frozen fish and processed tuna, has received Friend of the Sea (FOS) certification for the skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna it buys and sells.
All of the A Coruña, Galicia-based company’s certified tuna originates from pole and line and purse seine fleets approved by FOS for compliance with its sustainable fishing practices. These methods of harvesting are selective and do not negatively affect seabeds. On-board observers verify the compliance as well as the live release of endangered marine species, if any, that may have been unintentionally snagged as accidental bycatch.
Dedicated to the global import and export of frozen fish, Actemsa is one of the driving companies of the Polígono Industrial de Tomada in Galicia, occupying an area of 12,000 square meters. Since being founded in 1994, it has become a major supporter of sustainable fisheries at an international level thanks to a strategic alliance with world leaders in the canning sector, and by working closely with its Brazilian subsidiary, Industrias Alimenticias Leal Santos. All are Friend of the Sea-approved companies.
“I have collaborated with Actemsa for the past 30 years on conservation of the marine habitat, starting with the Dolphin-Safe project and now as part of the Friend of the Sea certification,” said Paolo Bray, founder and director of FOS. “Its engagement has increased over the years and it is now part of Actemsa’s environmental policy.”
“We are committed to protection of the environment, the maintenance of marine biodiversity and the conservation of marine resources. We believe that being certified Friend of the Sea will provide our customers and final consumers with certainty that our products come from sustainable resources,” commented Nuria Noal of Actemsa.
Actemsa’s Friend of the Sea-certified products are frozen raw tuna (Thunnus albacares, Thunnus obesus and Katsuwonus pelamis), frozen and refrigerated cooked tuna loins (Thunnus albacares, Thunnus obesus and Katsuwonus pelamis) and frozen and refrigerated tuna flakes (Thunnus albacares, Thunnus obesus and Katsuwonus pelamis).
During the past decade approximately 900 companies in 100 countries have relied on the FOS international certification organization to assess the sustainable origin of their seafood. Audits are based on the best up-to-date data and run by accredited independent certification bodies.
FOS also supports projects of preservation and protection of the environment and marine habitats. Moreover, it is constantly engaged in awareness campaigns to make more people conscious of the importance of consuming certified sustainable seafood.
