Thai Union-owned Norwegian canned seafood producer King Oscar has appointed Lara Berman as its new Director of Marketing and Business Development in the US. She joins the brand from her previous role as Senior Brand Manager for Thai Union’s Chicken of the Sea (COS). King Oscar is well-known among American tuna consumers for its premium yellowfin products in jars.

Berman worked at Nestlé for five years from June 2015 to June 2020, and was the Associate Marketing Manager for Coffee Creamers when she resigned from the post. She joined as the Brand Manager for Genova Premium Tuna in June 2020 and was later promoted to Senior Brand Manager of COS in October 2022. “Can’t wait to make some moves with King Oscar Premium Seafood and the amazing team in the US and Bergen, Norway. Great things to come! Here is to many more exciting days and big wins ahead!” she posted on her LinkedIn. King Oscar has been a part of Thai Union Group since 2014.

The Philippine Coast Guard recently arrested 35 crew members from two purse seiners who were illegally fishing for tuna and other seafood near Magsaysay town in Palawan. The government has banned purse seining in these waters. The sailors were apprehended on the morning of April 11 from the vessels ‘F/V Spring Beauty’ and ‘F/V Lotus 02’ after receiving information from the Coast Guard Intelligence Group-Palawan. Both boats are not registered in the WCPFC registry.

The Philippines banned the usage of some fishing gears such as Danish seine gear, locally called ‘buli buli’ (since 2013), ‘pangulong’ which is a small purse seine, and ‘taksay,’ a small trawler to catch tuna and other seafood, due to environmental concerns and the impact on the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen. The Coast Guard handed over the crew and vessels to the Municipal Agriculture Office of Magsaysay, Palawan, for appropriate charges and disposition, but did not reveal which gear was used by the illegal fishers.

Dongwon F&B wants to get a bigger piece of the ‘tuna sauce’ pie. It has set up its own production facility and expanded the product lineup with a new flavor. The two existing items were given new names and the bottles were restyled. Tuna Liquid Jin and Tuna Liquid Premium (the latter is made from yellowfin) were already launched in 2022. Tuna Liquid Soon is a new flavor to which aged anchovy liquid has been added that reduces the smoky taste of the tuna extract.

According to Nielsen IQ Korea, the market for tuna sauces in the country is estimated to be worth KRW 53 billion (USD 38.96 million) based on last year’s retail sales figures. This is double that of the 2021 sales. Dongwon has put its 40 years of tuna-producing expertise into this segment and aims to expand in Korea and introduce new varieties in the future.

Taiwanese tuna trader Fong Chun Formosa (FCF) recently announced that it is providing training sessions to the captains and crew of several tuna fishing vessels in Mauritius within its supply chain. Topics such as maritime safety, identifying protected species, strategies for reducing bycatch, and the application of environmentally-friendly fishing gear are covered.

FCF will also provide the crew with multilingual onboard operation regulations, posters identifying prohibited species catch, and channels for grievance mechanisms. FCF sells and trades with multiple seafood companies and sources its tuna and other seafood from over 500 vessels. The ongoing training is conducted as part of its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) development and supply chain improvement initiative.

The Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Pacific Community recently collaborated to hold the first Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) event. The participants discussed about the recognition of women in tuna fisheries, data gaps in women’s contributions, market development equity, and inclusive governance structures. Over 60 leaders and representatives from both groups and civil society organizations took part in the sessions that were held at the FFA Conference Centre at Honiara from April 9 to 11.

Enhancing the participation of women in tuna and other seafood fisheries management and development processes were also discussed. Cook Islands Minister Toki-Brown said that the Pacific Islands is committed to empowering small-scale fish entrepreneurs, especially women, by removing barriers to market access. “Through open dialogue, we can aim to create a way that is equitable and sustainable for all,” she said.

Liberia requested the IOTC for permission to continue as a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party (CNCP) because it has reefer/carrier and support vessels flying its flag that transship tuna in the RFMO’s convention area. According to the IOTC vessel list, four cargo freezers and one supply vessel for purse seiners are listed under Liberia, and there are no tuna fishing vessels in the record. In a letter to the IOTC Executive Secretary, dated February 12, 2024, the West African nation ensured its compliance to IOTC standards and regulations such as vessel monitoring systems, authorization to transship, establishment of fish monitoring center, and investigation of alleged IUU fishing boats.

The IOTC currently has 31 contracting parties (CPCs) that are members and two CNCPs, Liberia and Senegal. The RFMO reviews and renews CNCP status annually and revokes it if the country is found to have carried out non-compliant activities with IOTC conservation and management measures.