Hans Van Burg, Plant Manager at Lenger Seafoods: “Our main challenge is to make sure that the availability of shellfish is secured, in all its types, throughout the year. For this reason, our fishing is carried out in a sustainable way “
Today we speak with Hans Van Burg, Plant Manager of the company Lenger Seafoods, located in Yerseke (Holland) where the majority of the country’s seafood producers are located.
For him, the arrival of new sustainable materials is essential, committed to the environment that guarantees the availability of clam cultivation in the future.
He will tell us what are the main needs of seafood producers in Yerseke as well as how many companies are linked to the cultivation of this sector.
1- AS A MANAGER OF LENGER SEAFOODS WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER. WHEN DID YOUR PROFESSIONAL WALK IN THE COMPANY BEGIN? IN WHICH GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS DOES LENGER OPERATE IN ADDITION TO YERSEKE?
In 2011 I started my professional career in the Lenger Seafoods business group as Plant Manager and I continue to this day.
As Plant Manager I work physically in the geographical area of Yerseke (Holland) although I collaborate with other plants in a very close way. Since the Covid 19 pandemic, I have traveled to Vietnam about 15 times. In addition, I routinely travel to the other 3 plants Lenger Seafoods has in North Holland. Lenger Seafoods also has more plants in the UK and Bulgaria.
2- WHAT NEEDS BOTH LENGER IN PARTICULAR AND YERSEKE PRODUCERS IN GENERAL NEED TO BE COVERED? WHICH SHELLFISH FARMING SYSTEMS DO THEY USE IN THE NETHERLANDS?
The main and most important need that seafood products have both at a particular and general level are the resources, as well as the customers. But if you have resources, you also have the ability to get customers.
In the Netherlands, Lenger Seafoods only carries out wild fishing, but in the rest of the Yerseke geographical area, rope farming systems and bottom farming are used.
In Vietnam most supply is farmed.
3- HOW MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND/OR ASSOCIATIONS OF SEAFOOD PRODUCERS EXIST IN YERSEKE?
Currently there are more than 30 companies linked to the production of seafood in Yerseke.
4- WHAT ARE THE MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL CONCERNS FOR LENGER SEAFOOD AND ITS COLLABORATORS/PARTNERS?
Our biggest challenge is the availability of Shellfish, in all its types, throughout the year. Although our fishing is carried out in a sustainable way (MSC) that makes us continue to have a future in this sector. However recent field checks in both the Easterscheldt as the Waddensea are showing good quantity of cockle seed, so we foresee good supply the coming years.
5- ECOPLAS IS WORKING TOGETHER WITH ITS CUSTOMERS IN THE SECTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPOSTABLE MESHES. ARE THERE CURRENTLY ANY PLASTIC LAWS AFFECTING THE SECTOR IN THE NETHERLANDS? HOW DO YOU THINK THE SECTOR IS PREPARING FOR THE NEW DEMANDS THAT CONSUMERS DEMAND?
The development of new materials in the seafood sector is more than welcome in our company and more if this progress brings benefits for the care of the environment. In that sense, we are looking forward to meeting you.