BelOcean is one of the suppliers of gourmet quality seafood products from the cold waters of the South Pacific (Photo: BelOcean/FIS)

Friend of the Sea Certified Giant Squid

Friend of the Sea has announced the certification of Seatec’s giant squid (Dosidicus gigas). Seatec is a premium supplier of calamari products under the BelOcean brand based in Chile. 

Jumbo Squids are not overexploited in the Southern Pacific Ocean according to FAO and other assessments

This particular species of squid from Chile is taken from the ocean at a very young age. It is younger and generally smaller than the Dosidicus harvested from the waters of Peru or Mexico. The Chilean Dosidicus is tender with a light, mild flavor and is very abundant. The steaks are tenderized and processed without tripolyphosphates under HACCP.

BelOcean frozen squid steaks

Jumbo Squids are not overexploited in the Southern Pacific Ocean according to FAO and other assessments. They are actually considered abundant and impressive squid have been frequently reported in Chile.

Each giant squid is custom caught and hand selected. They are fished in the region of Coquimbo in Chile using a handmade tool called “TOTA” which is a type of skewer. The TOTA is thrown into a depth of approximately 20 metres and then hauled back up by hand. Once the squid is near to the surface a hook is used to heave it onto the ship. This is a very selective type of fishing as there are no unnecessary discards or by catch.

Mr Lizana, Seatec’s owner is thrilled “We are pleased that a fishery continuing to use artisan traditional fishing methods can prove its sustainability thanks to Friend of the Sea.”

Executive Director of Friend of the Sea, Paolo Bray states, “Sustainable seafood in Chile is becoming increasingly important, Friend of the Sea’s Chilean certified product range continues to grow.”

About BelOcean

BelOcean is one of the suppliers of gourmet quality seafood products from the cold waters of the South Pacific, one of the cleanest oceans in the world.

Strict quality controls and continuous feedback from customers assures value added improvements in order to get the very best product under BelOcean brand or private labels under the customer’s brands.

BelOcean's calamari fingers, tentacles and tubes

BelOcean seafood is custom caught and hand-selected complying with all the Chilean and worldwide environmental laws. BelOcean uses microbiological testing in every step of the production process in order to certify its products. After the best seafood is selected, special care is used in grading, freezing, processing and packaging.

About Friend of the Sea

Friend of the Sea is a non-profit non-governative organisation (NGO), whose mission is to conserve the marine habitat.

Friend of the Sea was founded by Dr Paolo Bray - European Director of the Earth Island Institute's Dolphin-Safe Project . The Dolphin-Safe Project saved millions of dolphins from dying in the tuna nets and started the sustainable seafood movement.

Friend of the Sea is now a main international certification project for products originating from both sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Certified products from all continents include most of the traded species, fishmeal, fishfeed and Omega-3 fish oil.

BelOcean's Friend of the Sea certified calamari steaks

Products and their origins are audited onsite by independent international certification bodies, against strict Friend of the Sea sustainability criteria.

Friend of the Sea Criteria follows the FAO - Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries. In particular, only products from stocks which are not overexploited can be certified (Art. 30 FAO Guidelines).

Friend of the Sea has deployed an International Monitoring Program to verify onsite the Chain of Custody of approved suppliers of Friend of the Sea products.

In line with the FAO Guidelines, Friend of the Sea pricing structure is affordable also to artisan fisheries and small-scale producers, which represent over 50 percent of the Friend of the Sea certified products.

Related News
Jumbo squid producer awarded FOS certification 

Margaret E.L. Stacey
Editor Companies and Products
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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Country:	Chile
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