Preserving environment, local economy, seamen’s health and safety… Many responsibilities weigh on fishing fleets today. Hent ar Bugale is committed to answer as well as possible to all these expectations.
Impact on local economy
Preserving local economy, here is the first purpose of the fishing fleet Hent ar Bugale, which work to make live from its activity the companies of Loctudy and around.
This is how we do so :
- Maintenance of Loctudy’s fish market’s activity, with landing, sale and cutting of the product made on site.
- Supply of the local wholesale fish merchants with fresh and quality products.
- Use of suppliers of Loctudy or around for seamen’s food and equipment.
- Use of local companies for ships maintenance and reparation.
Environmental impact
More than ever, preservation of marine fauna and flora are crucial challenges for fishing’s future. Concerned about striving for sustainable fishing, Hent ar Bugale is actively involved in the actions carried out by the producers organisation « Les Pêcheurs de Bretagne », to find solutions to this end. Our crews also apply species conservation measures in their daily activity.
Here are a few examples :
- Involvement in selectivity tests of cod-end in 90° turned mesh (T90) with the St Alour and the Connemara to reduce unwanted catch and to limit discards to be landed, as part of a study led by Ifremer.
- Regular reception of scientific observers aboard
- Involvement in an eglefin sampling program with the St Alour and the Ar Laeres.
- Respect of the landing size, of the forbidden species and fishing areas.
Involvement in seamen’s safety and welfare
The job of fisherman include numerous risks (falling overboard, accident…), and means to spend 15 days in the workplace. That is why Hent ar Bugale commits to safety and crew’s welfare, and takes to heart to respect the appropriate regulation. Here are a few examples :
- Annual ships inspection by Maritime Affairs and Bureau Veritas to control the safety rule enforcement.
- Regular ships maintenance, and yearly refit in dry-dock.
- Visit aboard of the seamen’s health service to check if hygiene and living conditions are good enough.
- Regular seamen’s training about safety and health
- Availability of a risk assessment document, updated each year.
- Participation to winch training with the French Navy
- Implementation of preventives health measures.