The Ministry of Fisheries and FCF strengthened collaboration for on-board tuna longliners

FIJI: The Ministry of Fisheries and Fong Chung Formosa Co., Ltd (FCF) has further strengthened its collaboration following a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 15 April 2023.

FCF is one of the world’s largest tuna trading companies with a long history of sourcing from tuna vessels globally. In Fiji, FCF have sourced product for Bumble Bee’s production at PAFCO for 30 years. FCF has designed a Social Responsibility Programme (SRP) to ensure that high safety and crewing standards are met across the FCF supply chain. The MOU was signed on behalf of the parties by Hon. Kalaveti Ravu, Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, and FCF Representative Mr Brett Carter on behalf of the company’s President, Mr. Max Chou.

The goal of this MOU is to establish a framework within which the Government, through the Ministry of Fisheries and FCF, can collaborate to achieve the common goal of maintaining safe, fair, and respectable working conditions on board Fijian tuna longline vessels and other vessels as appropriate. Following the signing of the document, Hon. Ravu stated that the coalition Government welcomed its development partners. He described the agreement as a 'holistic one for both sides' interests and obligations in ensuring proper crew safety and welfare standards are maintained. Hon. Ravu went on to say that the operations of both parties were complimentary and mutually reinforcing, because the actions made by the government to ensure compliance with domestic laws and policies concerning crew safety and welfare will boost the implementation of the FCF SRP, and vice versa.

Source: Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji.