RD Fishing & Philbest Tuna Supply Chain, Receive Best Seafood Practices Certification, a Philippines first

The Global Seafood Alliance announced on November 10, 2021 that RD Fishing Group‘s 12 tuna fishing vessels in the western and central Pacific Ocean have been granted the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RFVS) Certification, and Philbest Canning Co.‘s tuna processing plant in General Santos City, Philippines, the Seafood Processing Standard (SPS) Certification.

The fish that RD Fishing harvest come from a fishery that has been certified to a Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI)-recognized standard, making it the first seafood supply chain to meet the Global Seafood Alliance’s Best Seafood Practices (BSP).

RD Fishing harvests skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna with purse-seine vessels in the western and central Pacific Ocean, primarily in countries that are Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA).

SGS, which conducted the third-party audit, issued the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RFVS) certificate. SGS is one of the certification bodies that performs audits for the BSP and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification programs, which include RFVS.

Because of the combination of a GSSI-recognized fisheries standard — in this case, the Marine Stewardship Council — with RFVS-certified vessels and processing through an SPS-certified plant, RD Fishing’s customers who have tuna processed by Philbest, can now use Best Seafood Practices (BSP) in their communications, such as websites and marketing materials. BSP is the only third-party certification program in the world capable of linking responsible wild-capture fisheries to RFVS-certified vessels and SPS-certified facilities.

Best Seafood Practices (BSP) – Quick Facts

The Global Seafood Alliance, an international, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing responsible seafood practices through education, advocacy, and third-party assurances, administers the Best Seafood Practices third-party certification program. BSP is the only third-party certification program in the world that can connect responsible wild fisheries with certified vessels and processing plants. BSP assures the market that wild seafood has been harvested and processed ethically, with regard for the safety and well-being of all workers throughout the supply chain. Visit https://bspcertification.org for more information.

RD Fishing – Quick Facts

The RD Fishing Corporation is made up of thirteen different fishing companies. Purse seiners owned by the RD Fishing Group, based in General Santos City, are fully equipped with cutting-edge fishing technology and monitoring systems, as well as full reporting, documentation, and traceability of the catch. The fishing fleet of RD operates in the rich fishing grounds of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, specifically in the countries that make up the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), namely the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, The Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. Visit http://rdgroup.rdphilippines.com for more information.

Philbest – Quick Facts

Philbest Canning Corporation, based in General Santos City, Philippines is one of the 50 business units that make up the RD Corporation, which is fast becoming the fastest growing and most likely the largest Filipino-owned conglomerate in the Philippines. It currently has the capacity to process an average of 200 metric tons of tuna raw materials per day, which it converts into tuna products for customers all over the world. Philbest employs over 2500 people with a wide range of cultural and professional backgrounds. Visit http://www.philbest.com.ph for more information.