FASFA Facts

Facts about FASFA

• The Frozen at Sea Fillets Association (FASFA) was formed in September 2000
• It was officially launched in January 2001 at Fishmongers Hall, London
• FASFA headquarters is based in Hull
• FASFA represents trawler owners, importers and distributors of Frozen at Sea Fillets in the UK, Norway, Iceland, Faeroe Islands, UK, Russia, Germany, France and Spain
• FASFA is also funded by the EU’s Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG EU) and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA UK)
• FASFA supplies frozen at sea fillets to over 80% of UK fish and chip shops
• FASFA is also supported by the Seafish Industry Authority (Seafish) - the UK’s only cross-industry seafood body working with fishermen, processors, wholesalers, seafood farmers, fish friers, caterers, retailers and the import/export trade.
• Seafish is a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) and is sponsored by the four UK government fisheries departments and funded by a levy on seafood.

FACTS about FASFA’s objectives

• FASFA’s key objective is to promote the benefits of Frozen at Sea Fillets of Cod, Haddock and Saithe(Coley)
• FASFA works to actively counter current negative media coverage and reports about North Sea cod, which represents less than 10% of cod consumed in the UK
• FASFA provides positive information about supply of Cod from Barents Sea and Iceland
• It is also FASFA’s rationale to further educate consumers on the origins of their fish and to create positive brand awareness of the top quality, outstandingly fresh frozen at sea fillet
• FASFA works to highlight to caterers and fast food operators that frozen at sea fillets are an easy and tasty alternative to wet fish

FACTS about Frozen at Sea Fillets

• Frozen at Sea Fillets have been filleted at sea and frozen within just five hours of being caught
• Therefore they are of a premium quality and consistency
• They are ‘Ocean Wild’ – that’s to say completely natural. They are not farmed nor do they contain harmful additives nor preservatives
• In ‘blind’ taste tests, 12 out of 14 top chefs chose Frozen at Sea fillets over wet fish
• Frozen at Sea Fillets offer caterers a cost effective and potentially diverse menu offering
• Easy to prepare and store, they are also a vibrant ingredient which can easily bring any menu or ‘Daily Specials’ offering to life
• Frozen at Sea Fillets come in convenient, fully prepared and ready to use IQF (Individual Quick Frozen) packs or shatter packs
• IQF means that there’s minimal wastage and all skill levels of kitchen staff can prepare it
• Shatter packs of are available in 3 x 6.81kg (15lb) sizes
• Frozen at Sea Fillets are a versatile fish option for every size of operator and every menu – offering three types of delicious fish in various count packs of 20, 25, 30 depending on size of fillets
• They’re also available in five product types - Skin on, Skinless, Skinless & Boneless, Skin on and boneless – and in five different sizes, from 5-6oz up to 10-12oz pieces
• Frozen at Sea Fillets have a more consistent pricing than wet fish
• Frozen at Sea Fillets are available from leading UK wholesalers

FACTS about FASFA trawlers

• Most FASFA trawlers are between 50metres and 70metres long
• Crew numbers vary between 28 and 45 depending on the size of the vessel and its country of origin
• Around 87 FASFA vessels are operated by companies based in Norway(16), Iceland(32), Faeroe Islands (5),UK(2), Russia(24), Germany(4), France(1) and Spain(3)
• Areas of FASFA operation include Icelandic waters and the Barents Sea (north of Russia and Norway)
• The species of fish caught in these waters include cod, haddock, saithe, greenland halibut and redfish

FACTS about the availability of Frozen at Sea Fillets

• Some 50,000 tonnes of FAS cod fillets are caught each year by FASFA members
• Over 15,000 tonnes of FAS fillets of Haddock are caught each year by FASFA members
• Other white fish species, Hake and Hoki from the southern hemisphere are also available in frozen at sea fillet form, although not to the same quantities as the above
• Frozen at Sea Fillets are immediately available to the caterer