Maximizing the Catch: The Saeplast On-Board Handling Solution for Commercial Fishing

Fishing has been an important source of food and income for communities around the world for centuries. However, as the demand for fresh seafood continues to grow, it has become increasingly important to ensure that the catch is handled properly to maintain quality and safety. Fish need to be handled and chilled properly. With good handling techniques, good hygiene conditions will prevail. If not, spoilage and quality deterioration will only accelerate. A key loss at this value chain stage is primarily a loss in quality. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of on-board handling and how Saeplast's containers are a superior solution for the fishing industry.

What is On-board Handling?

On-board handling refers to the practices and procedures used to handle fish on fishing vessels. This includes everything from sorting and cleaning to storing and transporting the catch. Proper on-board handling is important because it affects the quality, safety, and value of the catch. Improper handling can result in damage to the fish, contamination, and spoilage. Maintaining proper temperature is extremely important to the quality of fish. Less handling and less pressure will yield firmer fish. Firmer and fresher fish will increase processing yield. Also, time is reduced by quick and efficient off-loading at the wharf or dock. Finally, using containers are the safer option for employees than totes, or hoisting loose products out of the fish hold.

History of On-board Handling

Traditionally, fishing vessels have used a variety of options to manage the catch, including storing loose fish in refrigerated fish holds with a limited amount of ice or in small hand totes. The loose fish held in fish-holds can cause damage, especially to the fish on the bottom where they are being put under a lot of pressure from the other fish on top. This pressure affects the overall quality and firmness of the product, which leads to reduced yield for the finished product. Additionally, maintaining a consistent temperature is a challenge. This challenge can lead to food safety issues and decreased product quality. So consistent temperature control is critical. This is where Saeplast’s containers come in.

Saeplast's Innovative Solution

Saeplast's containers are a game-changer for the fishing industry. Our containers are specifically designed to address the challenges of on-board handling. Our products are made from high-quality, food contact approved materials, and are triple-walled to provide superior protection. This ensures that the temperature inside the container remains consistent, which is critical for food safety and maintaining product quality. How is quality maintained? By landing the fish catch quickly and putting them into low profile containers with ice or slurry ice - by doing so, the amount of time the fish are exposed to multiple handling points is minimized. Resulting in less pressure on the fish and improved quality. The quicker you get the core temperature of the fish down towards the ideal -1 to 0 C, the longer the shelf life.

Saeplast containers are also easy to wash andsanitize, which is essential for preventing cross-contamination. They are designed to be safely stackable, which saves valuable space aboard the vessel. This is particularly important for long fishing trips where space is at a premium. Finally, having the ability to off-load the catch safely by simply hoisting the containers off the boat allows for maximum employee safety and is done quickly versus having to have employees shovel fish into large buckets and then hoist the fish out of the fish hold. 

Why Saeplast is the Best Option for Your Business

Saeplast's industrial containers offer several key advantages over traditional on-board handling methods. They are more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. Having the ability to utilize sustainable reusable options like containers is good for all of us. By using our containers, you can reduce waste and lower your carbon footprint, which is becoming increasingly important in today's market.

Moreover, our containers are customizable, which means you can tailor them to meet the specific needs of your business. We offer a range of sizes and colours, as well as the ability to add company logos and tracking options such as RFID tags, barcodes and QR codes.

Conclusion

On-board handling is an essential part of the fishing industry, and Saeplast's containers are the perfect solution for managing the catch. With superior durability,clean-ability, multiple size options and customizations, our containers are the best choice for any fishing business looking to improve the quality, and value of its product along with improving employee safety. Click here to learn more about our containers and how they can streamline your production or email us for more information.