Sustainable resource management
A sustainable business for us means to manage and contribute to the health of our oceans. Therefore, we optimize our efforts to conserve, sustainably use and protect the ocean resources at all levels within our scope of activities. While doing so, we will increase transparency throughout our supply chains. It’s how we strive towards even more sustainable certified companies. It is our ambition as a company to take the protection of marine biodiversity to the highest level: optimized efforts to conserve sustainably use and protect our ocean resources and marine ecosystems are central to this.
“Oceanic health is so important to us, because it supports marine biodiversity and both life below water and on land.”
Sustainable fishing means leaving enough fish in the ocean, respecting habitats and ensuring people who depend on fishing can maintain their livelihoods. In fisheries, the concept of maximum sustainable yields is used to assess the safe and healthy size of fish stocks. It states how much can be caught sustainably each year. This is logically no more than the natural growth of the fish population. This is how fishing can be continued in the long term without damaging the fish stock.
The fishing industry always looks for innovative gear technologies to minimize the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems. The projects that derive from the industry increase selectivity, reduce discards, provide better knowledge and improve survival of by-catch species.
We believe system change can only happen when different stakeholders in the sector work together, learn from each other and set up projects and guidelines for sustainable fishery. Therefore, we are an active member of many different initiatives such as the Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association (PFA), Orthongel and Europeche. PP Group makes an active contribution to multiple initiatives to increase insights in the best and most sustainable solutions and turning our boats into real-time, floating research platforms and creating shared value out of our growing knowledge.
Besides existing initiatives to improve the sustainability of Atlantic and Indian Ocean tuna fishery; sustainable fishery on the Atlantic Seabob shrimp; and sustainable demersal fishery in the North Atlantic ocean, we are also collaborating with other parties for knowledge exchange. This is how we can optimize the value of the knowledge we gained in sustainable fishery programs and apply this knowledge together with partners to improve the overall sustainability of fishery operations. Application of new fishing nets or improved tracking and tracing systems are examples of this.
Responsible sourcing means to us that we secure long-term sustainable sources of fish to provide high quality, nutritious food for today’s consumers and future generations. What ‘responsible’ means; varies per fishery and between fish species. Therefore we follow the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The purpose of this Code is to set international standards of behaviour for responsible practices to ensure the effective conservation, management and development of living aquatic resources. In addition, we continuously fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and prevent purchasing of IUU products.
Sustainable procurement
Sustainability is also reflected in our purchasing decisions. This helps us to engage in dialogue with stakeholders and the general public to emphasize why healthy fish stocks are so important. Our aim is to lower our environmental impact and also ensure regard for social issues, such as employment conditions, via our procurement system.
Elements of our purchasing criteria include:
- A reduction in carbon emissions.
- An increase in energy efficiency.
- A reduction in waste and increase in recycling figures.
- A reduction in water consumption.
- An increase in fair trade products.
As a fishing company, we depend on the sea. That is why the prevention of marine pollution is one of our highest priorities.
We aim to take sustainable ship and waste management to a higher level, by investing in innovative and green technologies and focusing on responsible management of our waste streams: both the pollution and waste from fishery activities, as well as other relevant on-board activities. We pay attention to responsible ship design, water and waste policies and management. These enable us to bring down our impact that potentially threats the health and viability of fishery resources. Keeping marine ecosystems as safe and healthy as possible.
We are committed to the “Green Deal for Clean Sea”