Torres Strait Rock Lobster Fishery: MSC chain of Custody workshop
The Fishing Industry Association (PNG) Inc., (FIA PNG), in collaboration with the specialized consultancy organization, Seafoodmatter, is continuously delivering a workshop on traceability and data collection from harvesting to shipping seafood products in the Seafood supply value chain.
On the 15th of June 2023, in Daru, Papua New Guinea a training based on the MSC CoC standard version 5.0 was carried out at the New Century Hotel. This includes the Links from the Lobster Reef Fishery, across the processing in Daru to Export in Port Moresby. A total of 16 representatives from the National Fisheries Authority NFA, and FIA PNG members divers, and three (3) processor representatives were registered to attend.
The Training & Workshop on MSC CoC V5.0
The Training & workshop is based on the MSC CoC v5.0 standard and constitutes an awareness workshop for guidance about implementation and auditing. This training action deals with traceability and legality in the Torrres Strait Rock Lobster supply value chain. In short, it is about acquiring adequate knowledge about the five (5) principles, tools, and controls available to evaluate the implementation level at the Lobster processing factory.
The workshop covers in detail the Lobster fishery traceability risk assessment and recommendations for a chain of custody at the point of the first transaction on the reef of the Torres Strait. The workshop provides case studies to compare tuna processing MSC CoC certification as a case study. Also, a summary of the MSC outreach and commercial approach from the United Kingdom, Scandinavian Countries, the United States, and Benelux was shared to inform about how MSC tuna and Seafood products increase awareness on Sustainability, Climate Change, Plastic Pollution, IUU, and Human rights among consumers in Europe and the US. FIA PNG members are constantly updating good practices of traceability that are aligned with the RSP and our traceability procedures
Main Benefits
On the other hand, the benefits of doing this training are extensive. On the one hand, it allows for a knowledge update of the CoC standard requirements and conditions for maintaining the traceability of the product. It also includes current efforts of the National Fisheries Authority NFA to develop electronic monitoring and reporting for the Lobster Fishery of PNG, the integrated Fisheries Information Management System, and the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability KDE alignment with the Lobster Fishery data collection.
We are preparing our Lobster processors for the MSC CoC V5.0 certification to be able and qualified to handle, process, and export PNG Lobster MSC-certified within this year
The FIA PNG appreciates the collaboration, support, and assistance of the NFA in this training and workshop
Top image caption: Port of Daru Island
