The nutrient rich ocean currents off the coast of the Philippines’ have been attracting schools of migrating yellowfin tuna for centuries. Equipped with a single hook handline and venturing out to the sea in traditional outrigger boats, local artisanal fishers catch tuna one-by-one. Handlining is the most sustainable way of catching tuna, as it generates no by-catch and sustains healthy stocks.
Single-hook handlines are the perfect gear to catch tuna – and only tuna! Whereas other catch methods such as longline have by-catch rates of up to 80%, handlining has by-catch rates of 5% only.
Filipino fishermen are masters of catching large tuna by handline: Attached to a stone, the baited hook is delivered to deeper waters where large tuna are hunting their favorite prey, small fish and squid.
Meliomar developed a unique electronic traceability system which allows to tag and track each individual tuna from catch vessel to final packaging of loins. With the tuna, all catch data is captured and shared with clients.
Participating catch vessels are equipped with GPS monitors which track the vessels’ position during each fishing trip and help improving fisheries management and enforcement.
An important aspect of Meliomar’s fishery improvement program is the continuous safeguarding of Non IUU compliance. All vessels must be officially registered and licensed for catching tuna in the Philippines.
In many coastal communities, tuna handlining provides for most of the livelihoods and is the lifeline for most families in remote coastal villages across the Philippines archipelago.
Fresh tuna is a delicate product to handle! Meliomar’s technical team builds fishermen’s capacities to catch and handle tuna properly and realize high quality grades for sushi markets worldwide.
Freshly landed Yellowfin Tuna is transported to Meliomar’s manufacturing plant near Manila airport where it is carefully filleted into high quality loins for both local and export markets.
