KAI MOANA What’s trending in fish and seafood?
Image courtesy of East Rock
Approximately 450,000 tonnes of seafood (excluding aquaculture) is harvested from New Zealand’s waters each year. New Zealand’s marine fisheries waters (Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial sea) is the world’s fourth largest EEZ, making it an ocean territory ‘superpower’. New Zealand’s 15,134 km long coastline is the ninth longest in the world. New Zealand is ranked among the best performing fisheries nations in the world – 95% of New Zealand’s commercially landed catch is from sustainable stocks, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Fish Stock Status report. Sustainability of New Zealand fish stocks is ensured through a world leading Quota Management System (QMS) that controls harvest levels for each fish species and area. Each year, the Ministry for Primary Industries reviews the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for fish stocks and sets limits so that enough fish remain for breeding.
Did you know? • New Zealand’s hoki fisheries were the first major fisheries in the world to be certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). • The MSC is the gold-star in certification labels, recognising sustainable seafood practices. • New Zealand’s southern blue whiting fisheries were the first major whitefish fisheries in the world to be certified sustainable by the MSC. • Seven different fisheries have been MSC certified; hoki, hake, ling, southern blue whiting, orange roughy, skipjack and albacore tuna. • Over 15,000 marine species have been identified in New Zealand’s marine environment. • Approximately 30% of New Zealand’s total marine environment is protected. Source: seafood.org.nz
EAST ROCK EAST ROCK, which is part of Gisborne Fisheries, is the culmination of four generation’s experience of fishing the East Coast. Marketing Director Hayden Dingle explains: “We have our own small inshore boats that harvest fish on short trips, with a small catch size. 20
FMCG BUSINESS - OCTOBER 2021
Through our unique vertical integration, we’re able to bring consumers closer to where their fish has come from. Each pack of EAST ROCK fish is marked with the boat that caught the fish, as well as the area the fish was caught in. “New Zealand is world renowned for its plentiful and responsibly managed fisheries, and our approach is very much being a steward of the sea. We look after the ocean as carefully as we can because the ocean looks after us. But more than just being careful about working sustainably, we’re careful in everything we do: how we catch the fish and how we process and deliver it. We take great care and pride in the way we look after the people who work with us, and the people who buy our products. “Our EAST ROCK end-to-end quality system is not about doing just one thing right but doing several small things right along the way from ocean to plate. For instance, a small catch size means the fish can be rapidly chilled to ensure freshness. The catch is unloaded and taken to our nearby handling site where it is carefully filleted, skinned and boned by our skilled team, the way it has been for over 65 years. Our commitment to freshness means fish is prepared, packed, and dispatched from the factory on the same day,” says Dingle. For orders email info@eastrock.co.nz www.eastrock.co.nz