The French toothfish fishing companies, grouped into a S.A.R.P.C [1] syndicate who manages this activity from Reunion Island, created the Southern Seas Companies foundation (Fondation d’entreprises des mers australes), which was just been recognized on 23rd August 2013 by the decree number 1546, published in the French Official Journal on 5th October 2013.
For the past years, the fishing companies have financially participated in different scientific research programs. This foundation will be of great help, with a board of directors based where the representatives of each fishing company are based, and qualified chosen few, selected from a group of scientists or well recognized experts. This council will have a budget and funds annually allocated by multi-annual donations from the fishing companies; it will organize and manage the fishing companies’ financial operations on scientific research projects of programs.
This is a very innovative initiative in the area of French fisheries.
In addition to this action, it is important to specify that the toothfish fishing companies are actively involved in the protection of the French Exclusive Economic zone of Kerguelen and Crozet through the Economic Protection (GIE) and Halieutic Resources group (P.L.R.H) [2] which manages the patrol boat “Osiris”. Even more so, they just acquired the MSC certification [3] for toothfish fishing in Kerguelen, proof of a sustainable and responsible fishing activity.
Notes:
[1] The Reunion Freezer Longliner Syndicat (SARPC) was created in 2002. It protects the interests of the French toothfish fishing companies and works towards a sustainable management of the resources and the preservation of the environment.
The SARPC groups together 6 fishing companies authorised to fish toothfish in the French Exclusive Economic Zone
of Kerguelen and Crozet.
These fishing companies currently manage 7 longliners:
– Armas pêche (Ph: +262.(0)262.42.02.73 / email: sapmer@sapmer.fr) : Mascareignes III
– Armements Réunionnais (Ph: +262.(0)262.42.02.73 / email: sapmer@sapmer.fr) : Ile Bourbon
– Cap Bourbon (Ph: +262.(0)262.43.18.80 / email: info@capbourbon.fr) : Cap Horn 1
– Comata-Scapêche (Ph: +262.(0)262.42.16.10 / email: operations@comata.com) : Ile de la Réunion
– Pêche-Avenir (Ph: +262.(0)262.45.25.90 / email: pecheavenir@wanadoo.fr) : Le Saint-André
– Sapmer: (Ph: +262.(0)262.42.02.73 / email: sapmer@sapmer.fr) : Albius, Croix du Sud and Austral