Tri Marine Announces Fair Trade Certification of Solomon Islands Tuna Fishery

Bellevue, Wash., March 21, 2019  – Tri Marine is proud to announce Fair Trade Certification of the Solomon Islands yellowfin and skipjack tuna fishery. National Fisheries Developments, Ltd. (NFD), a Tri Marine affiliate, is now authorized to carry the Fair Trade Certified^TM sealon the tuna catch from their five medium-scale purse seiners and four pole and line vessels. Tri Marine anticipates customers of its U.S. sales arm, the Tuna Store, will now want to see Fair Trade Certified tuna on retail shelves.

Since its initial assessment over a year ago, NFD has worked diligently to meet the rigorous fair trade standards for worker welfare and safety, as well as environmental sustainability. The NFD Fishers Association was established to help ensure the value of the fair trade catch benefits the local communities.

“We are proud to achieve fair trade certification and hope we can share the story of our fishery here in the South Pacific with customers around the world,” said Cynthia Wickham, NFD Pole and Line Fleet Manager and local Solomon Islander. “Fair trade has helped our fishermen be better organized, ensure crew and stevedore safety and improve overall community well-being.”

SolTuna, the neighboring cannery included in the Fair Trade Certification, plans to process and pack Fair Trade Certified^TM products for the global marketplace. SolTuna’s products are already an important part of domestic food security in the Solomon Islands and are exported to important export markets like the European Union and the United States. NFD and SolTuna are already Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified for environmental sustainability. Fair Trade Certified^TM provides additional social accountability and organized worker protections.

“We have been promoting responsible labor practices in our global tuna supply chains for years, including the application of World Bank/International Finance Corporation performance standards, and now fair trade standards in the Solomon Islands,” said Matt Owens, Director of Sustainability at Tri Marine. “Fishermen and fish processors are the backbone of our business and the economic drivers in their communities. Fair Trade Certification provides an additional layer of worker benefits.”

NFD and SolTuna employ about 2,400 Solomon Islanders, making them the largest private sector employer in the country and an important contributor to economic growth. Tuna resources in the region are sustainably managed by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Parties to the Nauru Agreement, and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

“Tri Marine and NFD’s commitment to fair trade is a powerful example of responsible practices in the fishing industry,” said Julie Kuchepatov, Seafood Program Director at Fair Trade USA. “We are proud to share the common goal of empowering fair trade fishermen and look forward to seeing more Fair Trade Certified seafood available to consumers.”