From Tuna to Octopus – My Journey as Impact & Fisheries Manager
Hi, I’m Irene – Impact & Fisheries Manager at Fish Tales. Sounds fancy, right? But what does it actually mean? Well, sometimes it means being glued to your laptop writing reports… and sometimes it means spending a few weeks traveling through remote fishing communities in Indonesia and Australia. February was one of those times. And what a trip it was! Let me take you along.
The journey kicked off in the north of Sulawesi, in the coastal town of Bitung. We’ve been working with this special fishery for years – one that catches skipjack tuna using pole-and-line methods. The fishers here are true pros: tough, dedicated, and incredibly proud of what they do.
In Bitung, I also reconnected with a familiar face: Glein, the proud spokesperson you’ll recognize from our packaging – and a true ambassador for this fishery. Together with our partners at AP2HI and a Fair Trade USA auditor, I took part in the annual Fair Trade audit. It’s an intense but essential process. Only by doing this can we ensure that these fishers are working under fair and safe conditions – and that their efforts are truly recognized and rewarded.
foto: fishers catching skipjack tuna with pole and line
Of course, there was also time to unwind. I got to join the weekly badminton tournament (spoiler alert: I did not win 😅), and on the last night, we wrapped things up with a karaoke session full of laughter, music, and some seriously off-key singing. The perfect send-off before heading to my next stop in Indonesia – a place that turned out to be just as special: Pemana.
Pemana: Where I Caught My Very First Tuna
From Bitung, I traveled with the audit team to Maumere, on the island of Flores. From there, we made our way to Pemana – a tiny, remote island where fishing is life. No roads, no rush. Just the sea, small boats, and a close-knit community.
Pemana is home to our newest fishery: a group of local fishers who catch skipjack tuna one-by-one using pole-and-line. I was welcomed with open arms and spent a few days staying with the community. I ate whatever was cooked that day, explored the island... and headed out to sea with the crew.
foto: Irene on the boat with fishers, partners from AP2HI, IPNLF & Fair Trade
And guess what? I caught my very first tuna – with a pole and line! A moment I’ll never forget.
What made the visit to Pemana even more special was that it marked the very first Fair Trade audit for this fishery. And the best part? This community will soon be officially Fair Trade certified – making it the second fishery that Fish Tales has helped reach Fair Trade status. A huge milestone on the journey toward a fairer, more sustainable future for fisheries around the world!
foto: Irene with self-caught skipjack tuna
Next up: Octopus in Australia
After Indonesia, I flew straight to the wild west of Australia. And I mean wild – this is where fisherman Simon and his three-person crew head out daily to catch octopus, our newest product and one we’re incredibly proud of. As the only MSC-certified octopus in the Benelux, it just hit the shelves at Albert Heijn this week!
I joined Simon and his crew for a full fishing trip. We set off at 3 AM, into the dark with big swells and a rocking boat. By the time we returned to shore – just before the afternoon winds picked up – we had caught 354 octopuses. What a haul, and what an experience.
Each octopus is brought in by hand, using a sustainable pot-fishing method with meticulously logged catch data. Seeing firsthand how this incredibly special catch is handled – the only sustainably sourced octopus available in the Benelux – was truly something else.
