FCF Co., Ltd. (FCF), a global leader and one of the world’s largest suppliers of tuna, today affirmed its long-standing commitment to sustainable fishing practices, validated by the maintenance of its Friend of the Sea (FOS) certification for Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna from selected partner purse seine fleets within its supply chain.
This continued certification, which FCF has held since 2014 for its core tuna operations, underscores the company’s deep and verifiable dedication to rigorous environmental and social standards in the complex global tuna supply chain.
“Maintaining the Friend of the Sea certification for our key tuna products is not just a regulatory compliance matter; it is a core affirmation of our business model,” said Max Chou, President of FCF Co., Ltd. “ Tuna is the backbone of our operation, and our continuous adherence to FOS standards—which demand non-overexploited stocks, low ecosystem impact, and commitment to social accountability — reflects our belief that commercial success must be inseparable from environmental stewardship.”
Commitment to Rigorous Friend of the Sea Tuna Standards
The Friend of the Sea standard for tuna fishing is one of the most rigorous in the industry, focusing heavily on minimising the impact of purse seine fishing on the wider ecosystem. Key compliance areas for FCF’s certified tuna include:
Stock Health: Sourcing exclusively from healthy, non-overexploited stocks of Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and Yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), based on assessments by Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs).
- Bycatch Reduction: Ensuring that fishing practices result in minimal bycatch and have negligible impact on endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species.
- FAD Management: Adhering to the FOS requirement for the use of non-entangling Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). This critical measure significantly reduces the risk of mortality for vulnerable species like sharks and sea turtles.
- IUU Fishing Elimination: Maintaining robust traceability and monitoring systems to ensure a zero-tolerance policy against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing across its supply chain.
Broader Sustainability Leadership
FCF’s commitment extends beyond FOS and includes multiple avenues to ensure the long-term health of the world’s tuna populations. The company is actively involved in:
Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs): FCF actively participates in multiple FIPs, utilising these collaborative platforms to drive continuous, measurable improvements toward full sustainability in fisheries that are not yet certified.
Energy and Climate Management: FCF continues to respond to global calls for climate change mitigation by gradually advancing its carbon reduction initiatives. The company supports the climate goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C. As part of this effort, FCF is actively assessing its carbon emissions and product carbon footprints, with a commitment to establishing emission reduction targets over time.
“The scale of FCF’s tuna operations gives them a responsibility, and an opportunity, to drive meaningful change globally,” said Paolo Bray Founder and Director of Friend of the Sea. “By continuing to align with Friend of the Sea standards — particularly in areas such as FAD management and monitoring — FCF demonstrates its ongoing commitment to responsible and sustainable sourcing.”
FCF remains committed to transparency and collaboration with governmental bodies, NGOs, and stakeholders to strengthen social accountability and environmental governance throughout its complex supply chain, ensuring that its leadership position supports a healthier, more sustainable marine environment for future generations.
About Friend of the Sea
Friend of the Sea (FOS) is an international certification program for products from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and is the only sustainable seafood certification project recognised and supervised globally by a National Accreditation Body.
About FCF Co., Ltd.
FCF Co., Ltd. (Fong Chun Formosa) is a privately-held, vertically integrated global leader in the seafood supply chain, founded in 1972 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. FCF has established a global marketing and logistics network, providing comprehensive supply-chain services for various seafood products, with a special focus on tuna. FCF is committed to advancing sustainability and social responsibility standards across the marine industry.
