Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CPF) vows to maximize marine resource use, moving forward collaboration with various organizations to restore marine fertility and targeting to reduce fishmeal ratio in aquaculture feed production to no more than 5%.
DVM Sujint Thammasart, chief operating officer for CPF's aquaculture business, said that the company sets a clear goal on marine resource consumption for maximum efficiency and sustainability. It targets to reduce the use of marine resources by upgrading animal breeding and cut down sea water use in aquaculture operations. Fishmeal used in shrimp feed production as a result slides from 35% to 7% and is targeted to fall further to 5% in the next 3 years, being part of its support to legal fishing.
"We have a clear guideline in protection and conservation, to ensure the sustainability of marine resources. We place our emphasis on innovating shrimp feed formula to reduce fishmeal which is part of marine resources, and shifting from black tiger shrimp farming to Vannamei shrimp. Fishmeal portion in shrimp feed production thus falls from 35% in the past 20 years to 7% at present," Sujint said.
He reiterated that under CPF's vision to become "Kitchen of the World", the aquaculture business comprising animal feed, processed food and ready-to-eat food involves the company with marine resources like fishmeal and sea water for farming purposes. The company realizes this fact and continuously develops technology to maximize resource use, in line with its socially and environmentally-responsible guidelines.
CPF initiated “Grow- Share-Protect Mangrove Forestation” project in collaboration with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Biodiversity-based Economy Development Office (Public Organization) and civil society groups, to preserve and restore mangrove forests for greater biodiversity, allowing marine lives to grow and preserving the country's coastal and inland ecosystems.
CPF joined 8 associations namely National Fisheries Association of Thailand, Thai Overseas Fisheries Association, Fishmeal Producers Association of Thailand, Thai Feed Mill Association, Thai Frozen Foods Association, Thai Shrimp Association, Thai Tuna Industry Association and Thai Food Processors'
Association in declaring their support to the Fishery Improvement Plan (FIP) for the Andaman and Gulf of Thailand coasts. It is expected that measures will be announced late 2017, believed to revive sea fertility.
Involving in shrimp farming and shrimp feed operations, CPF purchases fish meal from only suppliers who sourced their raw material from by-products of processing plants, e.g. canned tuna, and is subjected to meet the requirements on responsibility and traceability, certified with the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization’s Responsible Supply (IFFO RS) standard.
