Press release - August 30, 2011
Auckland 30.8.11: Greenpeace stand behind all of the statements we have made regarding Sealord’s tuna sourcing.
We believe that the public has the right to know the ecological impact of the food they purchase, in order to make informed choices at the checkout.
Greenpeace is running a global campaign to stop the indiscriminate practice of fishing with purse seine nets set around fish aggregation devices.
Greenpeace has been in discussions with Sealord and other canned tuna brands in New Zealand concerning the serious environmental problems regarding this fishing method since 2010.
In response to these discussions Foodstuffs announced in June that it would change most of its Pams range of canned tuna to FAD-free by the end of the 2011.
In addition all of the major tuna brands in the UK – including John West, Princes and the supermarkets Asda, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Waitrose and Tesco have responded to Greenpeace’s campaign by committing to stop sourcing tuna from unsustainable sources.
Greenpeace’s interest is in protecting the future of our oceans. In this specific case our aim is to protect both the tuna and other sealife that is currently being wasted as a result of the high bycatch levels associated with use of FADs. We also aim to defend the rights of the Pacific Island communities that depend upon healthy tuna stocks in the Pacific for their economic survival.
We look forward to Sealord doing the right thing by stopping the purchase of tuna caught using FADs and embracing more ecologically and socially responsible fishing methods.
ENDS
For more information contact Phil Crawford on 021 229 9594 or Karli Thomas Oceans Campaigner on 021 905 582.