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After a very intensive and profound assessment period, the Suriname Seabob fishery is the first tropical shrimp fishery in the world to be awarded the MSC certification and seafood ecolabel.
Heiploeg Group’s Caribbean Seabob “Xiphopenaeus kroyeri” is harvested and managed in a sustainable way, in compliance with the principles of the Marine Stewardship Council.
Rupert Howes, CEO of the MSC, comments: “The certification of the Suriname Atlantic seabob shrimp fishery shows how the MSC programme encourages collaboration between stakeholders to meet market demand for certified sustainable seafood while realising a shared vision of healthy and productive marine eco-systems. I congratulate the fishery and all partners involved in getting to this point. This has been a challenging process. The pre-assessment identified several issues that had to be addressed if the fishery was to meet the MSC standard. In resolving these challenges, the fishery, its partners and the Suriname government have implemented changes that will deliver environmental benefits and which provide a model for other fisheries in the region to follow.”
Heiploeg has been the driving force behind the MSC certification project in Suriname since 2007, and invested heavily in resources to conclude a stock assessment, adaptation of fishing gear by equipping it with by-catch reduction devices, implementation of a code of conduct for the entire Suriname Seabob fleet, involving and getting the commitment of the Fisheries Department, and achieving a better fishery management system.
"This certification is more than a label on Seabob products; it is a reward for all the people who made every effort and displayed great enthusiasm in bringing this fishery up to the MSC standard: the fishermen, Heiploeg Suriname, government officials, scientists and consultants," said a statement from the company.
The MSC certification of the Suriname Seabob fishery was celebrated on Wednesday November 9th at an event in Paramaribo, where Jan Ernst Veenman, Heiploeg Group’s CEO, presented reproductions of the MSC certificate to representatives of all parties in Suriname whose efforts and contributions made it possible to achieve this sustainability certification, the first ever in the region: the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, the chairwoman of the Seabob Working Group and the directors of both Seabob fishing companies Heiploeg Suriname and Namoona.
The Seabob shrimp are caught by Heiploeg’s own vessels in Suriname. In order to supply shrimp of the best quality, the primary production facilities are next to the jetty which allows for the shrimp to be processed immediately after landing; automatic peeling machines guarantee rapid peeling under strict hygienic conditions.
Seabob is a small, white PUD shrimp, with a delicious sweet taste, versatile and easy to prepare. Available as PUD (peeled undeveined) shrimp, sizes range from 300/500 to 90/110 pieces per lb.
Heiploeg offers Seabob both chilled (MAP) and frozen, packaged for retail, food service and industry. Value-added Seabob products include marinated Seabob, Seabob in sauce, and Seabob in brine.
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