SGS and FISH Standard for Crew Inc. are pleased to announce that Fishing Industry Association Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG) has been awarded FISH certification for 32 tuna purse seine vessels.
The FIA PNG vessels are owned by member companies Trans-Pacific Journey Fishing Corp, Bluecatch Corporation, TSP Marine Industry, Frabelle Fishing Corporation, and Starcki Venture Corporation. SGS awarded the certification after an extensive policy and procedure review, on-site vessel inspection, and face-to-face interviews with crew members.
FISH Standard for Crew provides a voluntary, independent and accredited third-party certification program for labor practices on vessels in wild-capture fisheries around the world. The standard was developed to assure seafood buyers that the fish they are buying and selling is harvested by crews that are:
- Recruited and hired ethically
- Treated with respect on the vessel
- Paid properly
- Have processes to address grievances
"We are proud to be the first to attain FISH certification in our region. The fourth pillar of FIA PNG's Responsible Sourcing Policy is crew welfare, an area we have worked hard on for a number of years, implementing policies and practices across our member companies while partnering with outside experts to identify best practices," said Sylvester Pokajam, FIA PNG's President and Chairman. "FISH certification, whose audits have worked to further improve our practices, was the next logical step in our journey. This independent process demonstrates we have achieved, and maintain, the highest levels of performance with respect to crew treatment, compensation and onboard conditions."
"In speaking with their team after FISH certification, it was validating to hear that they found the audit process fair and practical yet challenging and an additional driver for improvement," noted Fridrik Fridriksson, chair of the FISH's Board of Directors and Chief Human Resources Officer at Brim. "FISH ultimately seeks to better the conditions for fishers and to serve as a tool that harvesters like FIA PNG can use to demonstrate their commitment to crew welfare, compensation, and on-board conditions. It sounds like both were accomplished. Congratulations to the FIA PNG fleets."
SGS and FISH are actively working with organizations and fleets in Papua New Guinea, Iceland and Canada and are in discussions with additional organizations around the world.
About Fishing Industry Association (PNG) Inc.
The Fishing Industry Association (PNG) Inc. is a registered "Association" with the PNG Investment Promotion Authority. Its mission is to drive domestic fisheries industrialization to create and enable the maximum long-term economic benefit from the sustainable use of PNG's fishery resources
About FISH
FISH Standard for Crew provides a voluntary, independent and accredited third-party certification program for labor practices on vessels in wild-capture fisheries around the world. The FISH Standard is based on ILO-C188 and related guidance.
For further information please contact:
Cormac O'Sullivan
Global Seafood Segment Manager, SGS
t: 353 87 1169737
About SGS
We are SGS – the world's leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as a global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity. Our 97,000 employees operate a network of 2,650 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer, and more interconnected world.
