Agreement will also help conserve and restore community coastal resources and aquatic management
As part of its ongoing commitment to give back to the communities in which it operates, Thai Union Group PCL. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two community groups in Songkhla to provide them with a solar-powered fish-house dryer that will double the amount of fish they can sell by shortening the drying time and greatly increase the quality of the product.
The agreement with the Ban Na Thap Women’s Group Seafood Processing in Songkla Province and the Thai Sea Watch Association also establishes a framework of cooperation between the three parties to improve food safety standards and develop knowledge about seafood processing techniques. Together, the three partners will also work to conserve and restore community coastal resources and aquatic management.
Under the agreement, Thai Union will also help build a solar powered fish-house dryer for the Ban Na Thap Women’s Group Seafood Processing to support their efforts to improve their dried fish products.
“Thai Union is committed to giving back to the communities in which it operates by improving the lives of those people, which is one of the key pillars of SeaChange®, our sustainability strategy,” said Peter Galli, Global Director of Corporate Communications for Thai Union. “As such, we are very proud to be a partner in this project, which is vital to the community and supports them in developing a variety of value-added products. The solar powered fish-house dryer also helps reduce the contamination risk to the products from insects, shortens the drying and production time by 40 percent, and helps increase productivity.”
Beeyoh Amphanniyom, President of Ban Na Thap Women’s Group Seafood Processing, said: “The community will take this opportunity to improve the quality of its products and raise awareness about fishery sustainability. This will not only add value to our products, but will also provide a better life for our people by providing them with a job and the ability to generate income for the local community.”
Bunjong Nasae, Advisor of Thai Sea Watch Association, said: “I am so pleased that a large company like Thai Union recognises the importance of local fishing communities and the benefits of utilising sustainable aquatic resources. Sustainable oceans are possible if everyone is aware of how best to use the resources in the ocean and to fish without using destructive tools. This initiative is a great collaboration between the local fishing community and a private company working to improve the quality of life for people and conserving aquatic resources in the ocean for future generations.”