Strengthening its fishing connection in the Atlantic Ocean, the IPNLF welcomes Islatuna as a Member

The Organization of Tuna and Fresh Fish Producers of the Island of Tenerife ( Islatuna ) has become the latest Member of the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF), a non-profit organization committed to the development and support of food chains. tuna supply and fisheries that responsibly fish for tuna one by one.

Islatuna was established in 2004 to represent the interests of Canarian tuna and fresh fish producers. The organization strives to generate better returns for local fishermen, increase the competitiveness of its fishery products, offer a unified and collective voice for its fishermen at national and international policy meetings, and facilitate financing through the POSEICAN funding program. Fishing of the European Commission that supports fishing in the Canary Islands.

In the last 14 years, Islatuna’s membership has grown from 20 to 77 members, incorporating a total of 81 vessels. Mainly rod and line boats, ranging from 12 to more than 20 meters. The organization also employs 33 people to fulfill its primary commitments to ensuring the highest quality products and preserving the local marine environment through the support of responsible artisanal fisheries.

While the Spanish Institute of Oceanography has only been collecting data since 1965, fishermen in the Canary Islands have been fishing for tuna for many generations using one-to-one catching methods, benefiting from the natural migratory routes of these fish.

Macu da Silva, Islatuna’s secretary, says: “We joined the IPNLF because we share the same ideology and interests; to defend artisanal tuna fishing, caught one by one as it has been for more than a century. We believe that the union between our fishers and the IPNLF will provide many direct benefits as we seek to achieve our respective goals. ”

Islatuna joins IPNLF’s growing network of value chain stakeholders from around the world working collectively to improve tuna fisheries caught one-by-one and the value they bring to the communities connected to them. Other organizations in the Canary Islands,  Optuna No 42  based in Lanzarote, and in El Hierro  PESCARESTINGA and the Cofradia de La Restinga  were also recently announced as Members.

Martin Purves , Director General of the IPNLF, comments: “The incorporation of Islatuna and the large number of Canarian pole fishermen they represent in the IPNLF Members Network provides a significant extension of our reach in the Canary Islands. Their commitment leads to our membership to 57 partners who share the same motto: ensure that the world’s tuna fishers caught one by one and the communities they come from receive all the support they need to safeguard their future. We look forward to working with Islatuna to nurture the fishery and also to raise his voice on the international stage. ”

Pole-and-line fisher of the Islatuna association, Tenerife, Canary Islands, 2018 © IPNLF & Yaiza Dronkers Londoño

Notes To Editors

ABOUT THE IPNLF

The International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) works to develop, support and promote socially and environmentally responsible pole and line, hand line and trolling fisheries around the world. The IPNLF’s ambition is to contribute to prosperous coastal fisheries, including the people, communities, businesses and the seas connected to them. As a hub for sustainably minded organizations, we use the influence of the market to forge change through hands-on fishing projects and stakeholder cooperation. Membership of IPNLF is open to organizations involved in the supply chain of tuna caught one by one. Allied with our Members, IPNLF demonstrates the value of tuna caught one by one, to consumers, policy makers and throughout the supply chain.

IPNLF was officially registered in the UK in 2012 (charity 1145586), with branches in London and the Maldives, and a staff presence in Indonesia, South Africa, France, Germany, the Netherlands, North America and Saint Helena.

ABOUT  ISLATUNA

Islatuna (Organización de Productores de Túnidos y Pesca Fresca de la Isla de Tenerife) is an organization of producers of tuna and fresh fish based in Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The organization was established on November 4, 2004 by 20 shipowners, to obtain better returns for local fishermen, increase the competitiveness of fishery products in the market, give fishermen a voice at national and international policy meetings, and open the door to funds from POSEICAN-pesca: a program created by the European Commission to support fishing in the Canary Islands.

Since its inception, the number of partners has continued to grow and there are currently 77 members, with a total of 81 vessels. The boats vary in size, with three larger than 20 meters, 22 between 12 and 20 meters, and a total of 56 less than 12 meters. Most are artisan pole and line vessels, as well as two longline vessels. There are currently 33 people working in Islatuna. The organization is committed to guaranteeing products of the highest quality while offering maximum attention to the environment by supporting responsible artisanal fisheries.