Correspondence
Email sent to the contact address for Rongchen Puchen Aquatic Food Co. Ltd.
The email said: "I’m writing to you in light of our latest investigation, which concerns abuses in the Chinese squid fishing industry.
We have evidence of squid catch from a Zhoushan Ningtai Ocean Fisheries vessel that engaged in unregulated fishing activity - the Ning Tai 58 - at Rongcheng Puchen’s processing plant. Another 14 vessels owned by Zhoushan Ningtai are linked to a range of environmental and human rights issues including forced labor, AIS spoofing, shark finning, and unauthorized transhipment.
Does Rongcheng Puchen Aquatic Products Co., Ltd feel it has a responsibility to vet their partners and stay away from boats that engage in this type of behavior? Does Rongcheng Puchen Aquatic Products Co., Ltd. have any comment or statement to make in response to this email? Please reply to this email by close of business on July 20, 2023."
Rongcheng Puchen replied: “Thank you very much for your email. We have read your email carefully. Our responses are below:
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All purchases of the company’s raw materials come from fishing vessels that are legally registered and found in the European Union’s records. Regarding Ningtai 58, we looked into it after receiving your information and noticed that the ship was not registered or recorded by the EU. Therefore, the factory could not conduct processing or procurement activities, and the ship is not qualified to issue an IUU.
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The factory is very cautious in the procurement of raw materials, and stays away from similar raw material fishing vessels that have illegal fishing behaviours.
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The factory believes that if the 14 vessels of Ningtai Ocean Fisheries have acted in the way you mentioned, organisations such as China’s General Administration of Customs and international customs authorities would issue warnings to all manufacturers in the near future?
Hope the above information is helpful to you. Best wishes!"
The Outlaw Ocean Project replied: "Thank you very much for replying to our question, we appreciate your response. Regarding the boat Ningtai 58 - you mentioned in your email that this boat is not registered or recorded in the EU so your factory cannot process or source its catch. However, we have seen visual evidence at your facility of squid from non-EU approved vessels. Can you offer an explain for this situation? Thanks again for your help."
Rongcheng Puchen replied: "We are very surprised by your statement. Is there any misunderstanding? Can you provide your "video evidence"?"
The Outlaw Ocean Project replied: "Thank you for your email. We have footage of bags with squid with clear text on the bags quoting the names of ships that are not on the list, but we are not yet able to provide these shots."