Fishing

How can we respect the balance of the marine ecosystem while working in the canned fish industry?

By using a scientific, global and systematic approach and choosing to source only from those supply chains that are managed responsibly with the participation of all those involved: companies, fishermen and institutions.

The challenge involves working with all participants, including vessel owners, the canning industry, NGOs and institutional bodies, to find a balance among the three different aspects that make fishing sustainable:  the status of tuna stocks, marine ecosystem health, and the management of fishing areas.

A partnership to protect nature

In December 2016, we signed a partnership on the responsible procurement of fish resources with WWF Italia and WWF International. The aim of this partnership, which involved all our brands (Rio Mare, Palmera and Saupiquet) and all our procurements, was to raise awareness about issues related to sustainable fishing among all players in the supply chain, from suppliers to consumers.

In December 2016, we signed a partnership on the responsible procurement of fish resources with WWF Italia and WWF International. The aim of this partnership, which involved all our brands (Rio Mare, Palmera and Saupiquet) and all our procurements, was to raise awareness about issues related to sustainable fishing among all players in the supply chain, from suppliers to consumers.

In 2021, we renewed this partnership, by extending the scope of our commitments to the activities conducted at Garavilla.

The objective of this partnership is to increase the procurement and production of sustainable products:

  • 100% of the tuna sold by Bolton Food will be fished from MSC certified fisheries or from fisheries taking part in credible and comprehensive Fishery Improvement projects - FIPs by 2024;
  • 100% of the other fish species sourced by Bolton Food (Salmon, Mackerel and Sardines) will come from MSC/ASC fishing activities or from FIP /Aquaculture Improvement Projects – AIPs.

Responsible raw materials (2019)

Responsible raw materials
sustainable procurement mackerel

sustainable procurement sardines

We support scientific research

In 2009, we were among the founders of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), a global, non-profit organization whose members include the most eminent scientists, marine biologists and various NGOs, including WWF International. ISSF’s objective is to guarantee tuna stock sustainability, reduce by-catch and promote marine ecosystem health.
Participating companies choose to commit to honoring 22 conservation measures and to undergo annual audits.

In 2009, we were among the founders of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), a global, non-profit organization whose members include the most eminent scientists, marine biologists and various NGOs, including WWF International. ISSF’s objective is to guarantee tuna stock sustainability, reduce by-catch and promote marine ecosystem health. Participating companies choose to commit to honoring 22 conservation measures and to undergo annual audits. 

The most important measures:

  • To not make tuna purchases from vessels registered in the RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management Organizations) or European Union’s IUU  (Illegal, Unreported And Unregulated Fishing) lists.
  • To only make purchases from vessels registered in the ProActive Vessel Register (PVR);
  • Limitation of fishing capacity;
  • To only make purchases from vessels holding an  IMO (International Maritime Organization), UVI (Unique Vessel Identifier) or TUVI (Tuna Unique Vessel Identifier) identification number;
  • To only make purchases from vessels that have Fad management measures in place.

We diversify fishing methods

For some time now we have implemented a procurement policy that keeps account of different fishing methods and assesses various factors:

  • the environmental impact of fuels consumed for each ton of fish caught,
  • risk of bycatch of other marine species,
  • health and hygiene safety
  • marketing of a high-quality product at an affordable price.

This explains why our tuna is sourced from Purse Seiners registered in the PVR register, using FADs or fished on Free  Swimming Schools, or by means of the Pole & Line method.

Our fishing methods 2019 (%)

I metodi di pesca che utilizziamo 2019 (%)

We diversify tuna species

Tuna is a migratory species and is mainly fished in equatorial waters between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Eighty six percent of the tuna caught comprises two species: Yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis). According to the most recent stock assessment issued by ISSF, 84% of tuna enjoys good health.

Tuna is a migratory species and is mainly fished in equatorial waters between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Eighty six percent of the tuna caught comprises two species: Yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis). According to the most recent stock assessment issued by ISSF, 84% of tuna enjoys good health.

In order to protect the balance of the marine ecosystem, we decided, over time, to gradually diversify the tuna species fished. This was achieved by reducing catches of Yellowfin tuna from 100% to 56% thanks to the introduction of Skipjack, which now accounts for 44% of our procurements. We have made a commitment to not purchase or market either endangered species or species at risk of extinction, such as red tuna  (Thunnus thynnus).

Type of tuna (%)

We diversify fishing areas

Our procurement policy is based on ISSF indications and all the fleets supplying us respect the ‘closed to fishing’ periods’ indicated by the RFMOs, in order to guarantee that tuna schools have adequate time to reproduce and repopulate. The majority of our raw materials come from the Western Pacific Ocean which, compared to all the other oceans, has the lowest rate of bycatch.

Our procurement areas 2019 (%)

We protect the supply chain

Traceability is an essential tool to guarantee food safety and promote protection of the marine ecosystem.

For this reason, in 2015, we were the first Italian company and among the first in the world to obtain international ISO 22005 certification (‘Traceability system in the feed-food chain) of our traceability system from DNV-GL. This certification enables us to monitor a complex supply chain like that of tuna.

The project:

  • involves more than 500 reference products on 10 production lines.
  • vets all our suppliers globally in real time, while rapidly controlling and monitoring procurement data,
  • enables us to provide consumers who put in requests on our Rio Mare and Saupiquet websites with detailed information certified by an independent third-party body.

Value chain