A partnership agreement has been signed between Earthworm Foundation and the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) to further the cause of sustainable tuna fishing.
IPNLF and Earthworm Foundation have a shared vision: a sustainable seafood industry, from fishery through the supply chain. Together, they will work collaboratively to engage the French market in creating stronger and more responsible management of tuna stocks globally, promoting sustainable fishing practices as well as improving working conditions for employees, both at sea and on land.The partnership will also see the strengthening of The Tuna Protection Alliance (TUPA), which is aimed at becoming a driving force in the canned tuna industry, binding producers, retailers, and fleets together, as well as working to adopt better fishing practices and management to restore, balance and safeguard resources for future generations.
IPNLF works to support sustainable fisheries, forging change through practical fishery projects and stakeholder corporation to highlight the social, economic, and environmental benefits of one-by-one fishing. IPNLF now has offices all over the globe, with member fisheries ranging from locations as diverse as St. Helena, the Maldives, South Africa, Indonesia, and the USA. Their expertise has continued to grow, becoming one of the most respected and well-regarded organisations working in the sustainable tuna industry.
Earthworm Foundation has a history of working with organisations and governments around the globe to protect valuable and degraded habitats. In 2018, they solidified their mission to cultivate life in forests, oceans and communities around the world. This involves working with retailers such as E.Leclerc, Les Mousquetaires and Casino to ensure responsible fishing practices and supply chain management.
In 2018, Earthworm Foundation launched TUPA, which brings together a collection of organisations committed to the responsible management of tuna fisheries and the promotion of sustainable fishing practices that are linked to the French canned tuna market.
This partnership will be an important step forward in helping to create a sustainable supply chain in the French tuna fishing sector. Through the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), which is initially effective for a period of two years, the parties have agreed to the following commitments:
■ Create a focused partnership to collaboratively engage in activities and share information that furthers the promotion of sustainable tuna fishing.
■ Work collaboratively to improve the traceability and transparency of canned one-by-one tuna products.
■ To exchange knowledge about each other’s projects and activities, as well as exchange the contact information of pole-and-line fisheries that would be applicable for such projects.
■ Work together to improve the knowledge of the sourcing credentials of pole-and-line caught tuna in the French marketplace.
ABOUT IPNLF
The International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) promotes the sustainable management of the world’s responsible pole-and-line, handline and troll (collectively one-by-one) tuna fisheries while also recognising the importance of safeguarding the livelihoods they support. IPNLF’s work to develop, support and promote one-by-one tuna fisheries is subsequently fully aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
We believe effective and equitable global governance is essential to protect and restore the ocean, and this should be achieved by ensuring the participation of local and coastal communities in decision-making processes. Environmental sustainability in tuna fisheries can only be fully achieved by also putting an end to the overfishing and destructive fishing practices that are driving the degradation of already threatened marine species, habitats and ecosystems.
Allied with their members, IPNLF demonstrates the value of one-by-one caught tuna to consumers, policymakers and throughout the supply chain. IPNLF works across science, policy and the seafood sector, using an evidence-based, solutions-focused approach with guidance from our Scientific & Technical Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees.
IPNLF was officially registered in the United Kingdom in 2012 (Charity 1145586), with branch offices in the UK, South Africa, Indonesia, The Netherlands, and the Maldives, and a staff presence in Indonesia, South Africa, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
ABOUT Earthworm Foundation
Earthworm Foundation is a non-profit organisation driven by the desire to positively impact the relationship between people and nature. With most of our staff operating directly on the ground where the issues are, we work with our member companies and partners to make value chains an engine to drive positive economic, environmental and social impact.
For more information visit: https://www.earthworm.org/
