Fishing and aquaculture are key activities within the food production chain. The certification of schemes related to fishing, aquaculture and sea products provide the end consumer great added value in terms of product quality, traceability, food safety, sustainable fishing and other factors.
AENOR offers you two certification solutions for the fisheries and aquaculture sector:
Bluefin tuna is a species that moves in large shoals. It travels long distances to the reproduction areas.
Among the types of bluefin tuna fishing is purse seine fishing. The young tuna are captured and transported to aquaculture concessions, which are spaces that favour the growth of the fish in a controlled and natural way. Here, the fish grow and become stronger, recovering the fat lost during their annual migration to warmer waters; therefore, we obtain an excellent quality end product.
This certification highlights the good management of fishing, aquaculture and processing under criteria of environmental sustainability, animal welfare, traceability, authenticity and good handling practices related to anisakis. During the assessment, we verify that the activity is carried out following the guidelines established by the ICCAT for the sustainable exploitation and preservation of the bluefin tuna species.
In addition, it guarantees traceability and identification compliance throughout the industrial production chain, providing consumers with all the information about the previous stages and further confidence in the product.
The sustainability of extractive tuna fishing is one of the challenges to be faced over the coming years. The way to implement optimum practices that really contribute to the industry's sustainability (its Social, Economic and Environmental aspects) is becoming one of the sector's key issues.
Certification of freezer tuna purse seiners based on the UNE 195006 Standard,addresses all critical aspects in the tuna fishing industry by fully auditing the vessels under the requirements stipulated in the UNE 195006 standard.
Similarly, through the AENOR Chain of Custody APR certification the consumer can differentiate between canned tuna that has been fished in a responsible way through labelling with the AENOR APR Mark.
In the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's 2020 Spanish Food Awards, which 'recognise the work undertaken by companies and professionals who have distinguished themselves through producing, offering and promoting quality Spanish food, as well as through their contribution to the development of the Spanish food sector in a sustainable and efficient manner', the prize in the category of fish production and aquaculture went to a company with AENOR's Responsible Tuna Fishing Certification. As the source itself quoted, "the implementation of the mark has enabled the development of the certification for sustainable practices in the tuna production chain, the first of its kind worldwide.This seal is a necessary addition for ensuring product traceability. It takes into account the ILO guidelines (International Labour Organization) and is the first to consider the social aspects of international conventions."
For companies certified in "Good management of fishing, aquaculture and processing of bluefin tuna according to RP B95.05" the following specific mention is permitted: "Good management of fishing, aquaculture and processing of bluefin tuna certified by AENOR".
For Tropical Tuna
On the other hand, any fishing industries that would like AENOR's RTF Stamp on their tuna-based products need their Custody Chain certified under UNE 195006 requirements to show that all tuna labelled with AENOR's Conform Stamp comes from RTF vessels certified under this Standard. Vessels must also participate in a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP).
Chain of custody audits may be fully integrated with BRC, IFS, ISO 22000 and FSSC.
For Bluefin Tuna
Portugal