Thai shrimp farmer commits to fishmeal standard
THAI shrimp giant Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CP Foods) has committed to using fishmeal only from certified and traceable sources.
The company has established CP Food Fishmeal Sourcing Restrictions to guide its aquaculture operations in Thailand and in overseas operations.
This will ensure that they are all working under a single standard for sustainable sourcing of marine ingredients, the company said, adding that the move is in response to consumer demand for sustainable products.
Under the restrictions, CP Foods’ entire aquaculture business would use by-product fishmeal from processing plants certified by the Global Standard for Responsible Supply (IFFO RS).
This is consistent with the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
And for by-catch fishmeal, CP Foods said it would source ingredients from fisheries that have been certified according to international standards.
At present, the company said 100 per cent of fishmeal sourced and used for its Thailand operations has been from by-product of fish processing plants and certified by the IFFO RS.
In its India operations, CP Foods has collaborated with fishery societies, seafood companies and the government to establish the country’s first ever FIP (fishery improvement project), accepted on to the IFFO RS Improver Programme, and now ready for implementation.
The developed fisheries action plan will push for more assessment of marine stocks in the west coast of India in an effort to prevent overfishing.
Under the programme, the company will arrange training courses for partners in the supply chain, including fishmeal producers and fishermen, to guide them through sustainable practices.
CP Foods’ Vietnam operation, meanwhile, is driving a pilot FIP, established in 2017 in Baria-Vung Tau province, in collaboration with local fishmeal processors and IFFO RS. Dr Sujint Thammasart, COO of CP Foods’ aquaculture business, said all the company’s seafood operations, in Thailand and overseas, have integrated UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their businesses with social responsibility, environmental footprint and traceability throughout the supply chain.
And he said the projects in India and Vietnam are a ‘prototype’ that needs to be expanded to other coastal areas across the countries.
‘It is important to note that CP Foods is a buyer of fishmeal and producer of farmed shrimp as well as shrimp feed; we have never been an operator nor owner of any fishing vessel, and we do not produce fishmeal,’ he said.
‘However, CP Foods has a clear policy to make all of its operations worldwide to operate in accordance to international standards in an effort to prevent IUU [illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing) and promote a sustainable supply chain.’