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• Purse Seining
The pilchards are caught in large quantities by trawlers operating close to the shoreline. These vessels employ the highly efficient purse-seine fishing technology, which ensures optimal yields of quality and quantity.
• Harvesting
Pilchards are harvested by a fleet comprising both steel and wooden hulled vessels, according to strict quotas determined annually by the Fisheries Authorities, and within a set season. The total allowable catch is determined annually by thorough marine research sampling of the pilchard biomass.
 The
pilchard biomass varies constantly with changing regional and global
weather conditions, fluctuations in biological and environmental conditions, and
changes in sea temperatures and variations
in plankton concentrations.
Oceana has earned substantial shares in the long term fishing rights granted in South African and Namibian waters.
• Transporting
The pilchards are kept in refrigerated holds, in cold sea water, or on ice as they are transported back to the factory
either directly by vessel or by
a combination of vessel and refrigerated road transport. In order to ensure absolute freshness, the cleaning, processing and canning is all done
in the shortest time possible of the vessels arriving at the quayside to ensure optimal freshness, yields and quality.
• Production 
Cannery personnel
manage automated processes of cleaning, heading, tailing and gutting the fish.
The fish are automatically put into cans and
subjected to a double cooking and sterilization process. This ensures cooked-in
freshness, product safety, excellent taste and shelf life. (All Oceana
Brands production facilities in both South Africa and Namibia are
HACCP compliant.)
• Labelling
During the canning process each can is marked with a predetermined code to ensure traceability throughout its progress in the value
chain. The cans are labelled with the well-recognised Lucky Star label.
The cans are then packed in customer-friendly outer multiples using the most modern shrink-wrapping technology.
• Testing
In addition to the most stringent in-house testing
procedures, all batches of canned pilchards are sampled and tested independently
by the National Regulater of Compulsory Specification (NRCS) against set organoleptic
and microbiological standards before being allowed onto the supermarket
shelves.
• Distribution
The marketing infrastructure of Lucky Star canned pilchards allows the most comprehensive distribution and warehousing in southern Africa, exposing the product to consumers universally in all regions and in every trading sector.
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Canned Pilchards are marketed under the pre-eminent Lucky Star brand which commands a major share of the South African market, has wide distribution throughout Africa and is well known is many world markets. Lucky Star is the market leader in its category.
Calcium for strong bones & development of red blood cells which are formed in certain bones in the body.
