If you would like to send us an article, contact Margaret Stacey
Frinsa Albacore Tuna.
Spanish Cannery Commitment to Sustainability
(SPAIN, 5/20/2015)
Galician cannery Frinsa del Noroeste S.A., headquartered in Ribeira, Province of La Coruña, Spain, is one of Europe’s leading canned fish and seafood companies and the world’s eighth largest buyer of tuna.
The company cans are the best from the sea in accordance with responsible and sustainable environmental criteria. To ensure the highest standards are adhered to in terms of the environment, the sustainability of marine resources and product quality, Frinsa has sought certification from a number of major international independent bodies.
Frinsa is the supplier of the major European chains’ own brands and also manufactures its own brands Frinsa and Ribeira.
Frinsa also actively works alongside environmental protection organisations, scientific institutes and independent foundations in order to encourage the rational exploitation of marine resources and to preserve biodiversity, with principles ranging from traceability and transparency, raising customers’ ecological awareness and the active fight against all forms of illegal fishing.
Ribeira yellowfin tuna.
The company is one of the newest member of the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF), a non-profit organisation that operates globally and is committed to working with companies that utilise tuna which has been responsibly caught using the pole-and-line method.
Frinsa albacore tuna fillets.
Pole-and-line fishing is widely considered one of the most environmentally and socially desirable methods of catching tuna as the fish are individually hand caught with hooks and poles, resulting in virtually no discards.
Membership of IPNLF is open to all stakeholders involved in the pole-and-line tuna supply chain, from fishing associations to processors, to caterers and retailers, and all members are encouraged to engage in the fisheries development.
Over the last decade, Frinsa has consolidated its position as one of Europe’s major manufacturers of canned tuna and seafood. It is currently the eighth ranked canned tuna producer in the world, processing more than 100,000 tonnes in 2013.
Frinsa is also one of the leading Spanish canneries, utilising albacore and skipjack tuna caught by pole-and-line, while its factory in Ribeira is regarded as one of the largest and most efficient within the sector.
Pole-and-line fishing is widely considered one of the most environmentally and socially desirable methods of catching tuna.
José Aller, Head of Sustainability at Frinsa del Noroeste, believes that being an active member of non-profit associations like IPNLF, which want to ensure the long-term viability of traditional fisheries and support the coastal communities that are reliant upon them, further strengthens Frinsa’s commitment to sustainability.
Frinsa yellowfin tuna comes from the finest yellowfin species which are carefully selected, depending on their origin, size and fishing season.
“The global demand for pole-and-line tuna continues to grow at an extremely rapid rate. Therefore, it is essential we do all we can to raise awareness throughout the sector and at every stage of the supply chain of the need to act responsibly. IPNLF will be a key ally to achieving this aim,” José Aller says.
Frinsa's factory is among the most efficient fish and seafood processing plants in the world.
About Frinsa
Frinsa del Noroeste S.A. was founded in 1961 in the city of Ribeira in Galicia, northwest Spain. The company's factory is among the most efficient fish and seafood processing plants in the world. Frinsa manufactures its own brands ‘Frinsa (Gourmet)’ and ‘Ribeira’ as well as customer branded products for the major European food retailers.