Written by Natalia Freitas for Atuna.com
Recently awarded with a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, the Western Fishboat Owners Association’s (WFOA) troll/jig and pole/line albacore tuna fishery expects to expand MSC-products’ demand in United States.
The certification has been achieved under a number of contradictions, since MSC has already certified the fishery but through a different operator: the American Albacore Fishing Association (AAFA). For commercial political reasons, WFOA members decided not to join AAFA’s MSC certification and apply for their own.
Each season U.S. albacore tuna trollers catch an average of 9 – 13 thousand metric tons of albacore off Washington, Oregon and California. Historically only around 1500 tons of the albacore caught by these small, family-owned boats have been distributed to U.S. consumers. The balance is sold to Asia and Europe.
In a short interview the WFOA director, Wayne Heilkkila, talks about the double certification and plans to get U.S. consumers “hooked†on MSC certified albacore.
Atuna.com: How many vessels does WFOA currently have under the MSC certification?
Wayne Heikkila: The certification covers the entire U.S. troll and baitboat fishery, of which about 300 are WFOA member vessels.
Can non WFOA members apply?
Non members can share by a simple registration process as long as their fish is under MSC protocol.
What are the major benefits expected from the certification?
Obtaining more opportunity to sell into markets wanting MSC certified albacore. This is especially true in Europe, but we are promoting the attributes in the U.S. as well and expect that to grow.
It took almost exactly one year for the assessment to be over, any bumps on the road?
It was actually about 18 months since we actually began. It went fairly smooth with no major hang-ups.
How will WFOA MSC certified Albacore compete with AAFA's MSC albacore?
Since the Canadians are now also certified and New Zealand is getting close and both these markets, as well as WFOA and AAFA, sell to similar markets there will be competition I assume for that part of the market. We have always recognized that, however we could not afford to be the only one without it. We hope the MSC demand continues to grow worldwide and the markets expand so all can benefit.
What are WFOA goals and future plans, now that the MSC certification has been achieved?
WFOA will continue to expand the U.S. consumer market so we do not have to spend great amounts of energy shipping our product half way around the world. We catch a sustainable product that is high in Omega 3's and a great reasonably priced source of protein and will continue to promote this.