(Photo Credit: Sealord)

Sealord invests USD 17 million in hoki factory trawler

Sealord has purchased the Ocean Dawn, a vessel that has been under contract to the fishing company since July 2011, thanks to increases in sustainable hoki quota, its most important species.

The decision to invest in the 63 metre freezer factory trawler means the company is securing 84 fishing jobs and its on-shore support teams.

The vessel has capacity for 503 tonnes of frozen fish and 160 tonnes of fishmeal.

General Manager Sealord Fishing, Doug Paulin, says the decision to invest in the vessel is a reflection of Sealord’s confidence in the sustainability of hoki and commitment to New Zealand based fishing operations.

“This investment is substantial at close to NZD 20 million (USD 17 million) and underlines Sealord’s confidence that hoki is one of the world’s most sustainable white fish species with considerable upside in the future in both value and catch,” said Paulin.

New Zealand hoki was the first white fish species to be certified through the global Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) programme in 2001 and has now been certified three times with the last recertification being objection free.

Hoki is the target species for Ocean Dawn and the fish makes up around half of Sealord’s revenue by value.

Investment will go beyond the purchase with work underway to refit and improve the on-board factory and the addition of a gym for the crews. Upgrades of crew quarters and a five year refit will take place when the vessel goes into dry dock at the end of 2015. 

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Country:	New Zealand
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