Supporting sustainability of our oceans and it’s food supply throughout every stage of the seafood supply chain is very much at the core of our mission at Seafood Souq.

In support of this pursuit we are delighted to announce our collaboration with the International  Pole  and  Line  Foundation  (IPNLF),  a non-profit organization working to develop and demonstrate the value of pole-and-line and handline caught fish for thriving coastal communities.

Currently 53% of the world’s fisheries are fully exploited, and 32% are overexploited (WWF)

‘One-by-one’ fishing helps to reduce by-catch and provide a greater share of profit for fishermen’

What is by-catch?
It’s not just the fish we eat that are affected ,each year, billions of unwanted fish and other animals – like dolphins, marine turtles, seabirds, sharks, and corals die due to inefficient, illegal, and destructive fishing practices.

Aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development we will be working with IPNLF in line with their mission to contribute to thriving coastal fisheries, including the people, communities, businesses and seas connected with them.

We have started this partnership by working together in developing regions to introduce responsible  pole-and-line,  handline  and  troll  (collectively known  as  ‘one-by-one’) for tuna fisheries.

This week we signed a letter along with more than 100 NGO’S such as WWF, retailers and artisanal fisheries urging the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) to monitor, manage and restrict dFADs in order to rebuild tuna stocks and protect fragile marine ecosystems.

See the article here:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/09/retailers-join-calls-for-urgent-action-to-restrict-harmful-tuna-fishing-methods

The impacts of drifting-FADS on the long-term viability of fisheries that sustain coastal communities are obvious. The ecological damage caused by drifting-FADs through ghost fishing, plastic pollution and damage to sensitive coastal habitats such as corals are felt long after they’ve been lost, abandoned or discarded. We have also seen evidence of drifting-FADs being deployed on the periphery of coastal states’ territorial waters, drifting through their EEZs picking up tons of juvenile fish, and being collected by industrial, distant water purse seine vessels on the other side. These devices are not only causing devastation of the yellowfin stock but are leaving coastal communities to deal with the mess they leave behind.

Martin Purves, the Managing Director of the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPLNF)

As the preservation of our oceans and sustainable  fishing practices is at the core of our existence at Seafood Souq, the collaboration with such an important entity as IPNLF is a big step forward in ensuring that we are able to do our part, to not only promote, but also facilitate growth within the sector.  The fishing industry for the future needs to function in-line with sustainable development goals and the environment, not despite them, and we look forward to the work our two organisations can do together to enable this.

Sean Dennis, CEO & Co-Founder of Seafood Souq.

What are dFAD’s?
dFAD’s are Drifiting Fish Aggregative Devices, these devices cast a shadow into the water to attract groupings of fish.  Fishers can then cast their nets and fishing rods near these floating objects to increase their catch with lesser efforts however this can result in high levels of bycatch

By starting to work with IPNLF, we aim to develop an approach to up-skill local fishing communities to deploy best fishing practices and improve outcomes  for  the  environment  and local community, rewarding for sustainable and socially responsible fishing techniques.

The video below shows the benefits local indonsiean fishermen found from adopting the ‘one-by-one’ process.

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Local fisheries play a significant role in maintaining food security, providing livelihoods,and welfare.  Through this alliance we hope to shine a light on the value that well-managed fisheries can bring to the communities and contribute to our mission to support the UN’s 2030 agenda to save our oceans and sustain our food source.

Together with IPLNF we aim to drive significant environmental and social change of fishing practices and are excited to unite our expertise and enthusiasm to improve the seafood industry around the world.

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