Frozen at Sea Fillets Association
The Frozen at Sea Fillets Association (FASFA) is a trade organisation representing trawler owners and distributors of frozen at sea (FAS) filleted fish from Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Spain, Russia and Greenland.
FASFA and its members highlight the general health benefits of eating fish. FASFA also ensures all its members fish in the waters of the North Atlantic and Barents Sea to preserve the sustainability of future fishing stocks.
Frozen cod and haddock fillets are now used by 90% of UK Fish & Chip shops.[1]
Quality[edit]
The frozen at sea process employs a similar ethos to the frozen peas industry. The catch is cleaned, filleted and then frozen on the trawlers within five hours which guarantees freshness and quality when the fish reaches the place of sale.
FASFA regularly carries out taste tests to compare quality against 'fresh wet' fish, other species, and fish from alternative stocks (wild and farmed).
FASFA has sponsored the national Fish and Chip Shop of the Year competition for the past 8 years. The competition is organised by the industry body Seafish[2] and celebrates the best quality within the industry.
Thousands of entries are shortlisted to ten regional finalists and judged by industry representatives including previous winners, writers and members of organisations such as the National Federation of Fish Friers,[3] the British Potato Council[4] and Seafish.
The regional finalists face judging criteria in which each fish and chip shop is judged on cleanliness, customer service and quality of product as well as a commitment to ensuring a sustainable future for the industry by sourcing fish from well-managed stocks.
On average, every year of the competition nine out of the ten finalists use frozen at sea filleted fish. The competition celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2008.
Sustainable fishing[edit]
FASFA places emphasis on natural resources. It members adhere to the responsible management of fisheries and the sustainability of fishing stocks, which allows the 'frozen at sea' FAS fillets to carry The Ocean Wild Mark.
Areas of operation for the trawlers are Icelandic waters and Barents Sea (north of Russia and Norway) where fish stocks are well maintained [5] and illegal fishing is being cut through the co-operation of the Norway and Russia governments the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC).[6]
Species caught in these waters include cod, haddock, saithe, Greenland halibut and redfish. The Barents Sea is home to the world's last large cod stock and supplies more than half the Atlantic cod available on the global market.
Food Service industry[edit]
Frozen cod and haddock fillets are used by 90% of the UK's Fish & Chip shops and also within the wider catering industry. Benefits of frozen at sea fillets to the food service sector include:
- ‘Ocean Wild’ – not farmed
- No ‘E’ numbers
- Caught in well managed waters of Iceland and Barents Sea
- Filleted and frozen within 5 hours of being caught
- FAS fillets are ‘Fresher’ than variable ‘Fresh’
- Available in IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) form for convenience
- Species include Britain's favourites - cod and haddock
- Presentation - skin on, skinless and skinless boneless
- Blind taste tests 12 out of 14 chose FAS
- No Smell
- Minimal wastage
- Superior quality to ‘double frozen imports’ and 'farmed fish imports'
- Not subject to availability due to adverse weather conditions
- Market prices are more consistent than ‘Fresh’
History[edit]
FASFA was formed in September 2000 and officially launched in January 2001 at Fishmongers Hall, London.
FASFA's head office is in Two Humber Quays, Wellington Street West, Hull HU1 2BN
Members[edit]
There are approximately 65 vessels operated by companies based in Norway (10), Iceland (22), the Faeroe Islands (3), UK (2), Russia (20), Germany (4), France (1) and Spain (3). The numbers may vary from time to time during the year as vessels switch to different species or processes.
FASFA's members benefit from the collective promotion of 'frozen at sea' fillets by all members of the chain, right through from catchers to importers and distributors.
Members are given access to all UK distribution channels and information on industry news, particularly in UK's Fish & Chip shop sector. As an international body covering all sectors of the industry, FASFA members hope to have a greater influence than they would as an individual organisation.
The Trawlers[edit]
Most Frozen at Sea (FAS) trawlers are between 50m and 70m long.
Crews number between 28 and 45 depending on size and flag country. Each trawler can stay at sea for up to three months.
-
Arctic Warrior freezer trawler working out of Hull in England
-
The Spanish Trawler Nuevo Virgen De La Barca in North Atlantic waters
References[edit]
- ↑ Times OnLine (March 16, 2009) Low-fat, ethically sourced, even delivered to your door — here is a taste of things to come.
- ↑ Seafish
- ↑ National Federation of Fish Friers
- ↑ British Potato Council
- ↑ and agreed by leading independent scientists to be highly sustainable World Wildlife Fund (5 Feb 2009)
- ↑ World Wildlife Fund (23 Apr 2008)
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