Filipino seafood exporter Fishta Seafood Inc. (FSI) has enabled fishing communities in Busuanga, Palawan to contribute to Philippines’ fishery export to Japan and Canada through its marketing effort under a USAID sustainable fishing program.
Speaking at the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc.’s (PCAFI) “Usapang Pagkain,” Carina Ong Tan, FSI general manager, said long term benefits to the livelihood of at least 50 women in Busuanga are anticipated.
“Sustainability of the supply chain is something I champion and believe in. We help the community by investing in the supply chain and by teaching people. We become the linkage (between fishermen and the market),” Tan said.
FSI has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Fish Right and Seatrace International Inc. to promote responsible fish sourcing, reversing the adverse impact of Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
FSI, a spinoff from parent firm aquaculture feeds producer Santeh Feeds Corp., supplies seafoods to supermarkets, restaurants, and overseas markets from its owned or contracted farms. These are in the form of live, frozen, chilled, and smoked products.
It has invested in the seafoods supply chain in order to achieve fish production sustainability, ensure its products’ safety, and reach bigger local and export markets.
It has invested in facilities– blast freezing, indirect contract freezing, and individually quick frozen technology.
“This is an example of the idea of introducing innovation and market linkage directly to the source, from the fishing communities themselves. We buy their products directly from them, and they no longer have to go to traders,” said Tan.
“It’s a program that gives attention to the island itself. Other fishing communities go to us for the replication of this program. We can contribute these ideas to the seafood industry because we have access to technology and markets. This way, we can make an impact directly on fisherfolks.”
With its ability for traceability, food safety is ensured. Consumers are able to send feedback on the quality of a seafood product as their origin may be traced. With traceability, the company can pull back products in the market that pose any adverse risk on human health.
“We are still in the process of creating our RSS (responsibly sourced seafood standard) Policy to achieve 100% Traceability & Transparency in our supply chain,” said Tan.
FSI parent firm SFC was founded by PCAFI Chairman Philip Ong in 1990.
SFC boasts of ISO-certified manufacturing facilities that produce optimally bioavailable ingredients for fast seafood growth and for environmental sustainability.
FSI’s program with USAID aims to sustain food production while protecting the seas and fish populations.
The USAID program recognizes that the Philippines loses an estimated P68.5 billion yearly from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing
It has supported protection of fishery areas through key marine biodiversity areas (KMBA) in Calamianes Island, Southern Negros, and Visayan Sea.
FSI has also contributed to the empowerment of 50 women and their families as the Department of Trade and Industry granted them a brine cold storage facility upon FSI’s training of these women. (PR)
Photo: Fishta links fishermen direct to markets to value added seafood products like this Halibut.