Welcome to the updated edition of our Australian Canned Tuna Guide. Since we launched the first guide just 2 years ago there have been mammoth improvements. This is thanks to you ocean lovers demanding change!
Then
No tuna brand even knew where or how their tuna was caught.
No Australian brand sold sustainably-caught tuna.
Overfished yellowfin tuna was widely used.
Now
Nearly every brand can tell you where and how their tuna is caught.
One Australian brand – Safcol – has switched to 100% sustainably-caught tuna.
Nearly every major brand has released a sustainable option. In fact there’s a pole and line option in almost every supermarket.
So what’s the problem?
Most tuna sold in Australia is still caught using destructive fishing methods, which obliterate tuna stocks and kill other marine life. This has got to stop if we are to restore the health of our oceans. Tuna brands should also refuse to sell tuna species most at risk and use their power to support vital marine reserves. Take action now!
Click on a brand to see how they rate.
Poster-size tuna ranking now available
Is your fridge door looking a bit bare? Kitchen noticeboard at your office in need of some new reading material? Then why not download our new poster-sized tuna guide so you can help spread the sustainable tuna message further.
1. Fish 4 Ever
A world leader in fair and environmentally sound sourcing of tuna. Fish4Ever pioneered sustainable pole and line caught tuna in Australia and continues to promote fisheries that benefit local communities. The benchmark.
- 100% pole and line caught tuna.
- Promotes sustainable tuna in political, industry and consumer fora.
- Considers entire fishery ecosystem
- Supports local coastal fisheries and pays a premium price to local fishers.
- Clear, honest, comprehensive labelling.
2. Safcol
Safcol is the first Australian company to commit to 100% pole and line caught skipjack tuna – an industry changing move. Safcol genuinely wants to improve the tuna industry and promotes sustainable methods publicly.
- 100% pole and line caught skipjack tuna.
- Promotes sustainable fishing methods and the conservation of overfished tuna species,
like yellowfin.
- Publicly supports marine reserves.
- Safcol supports the principal of marine reserves as an essential component of healthy oceans.
- Good labelling.
- Could improve its equitable sourcing policy and provide clearer labelling of catch area.
3. ALDI Portview Pole & Line
Unlike Aldi’s Oceanrise exclusive brand, which relies on overfished yellowfin tuna, Portview uses healthier skipjack tuna. This pole and line product is a good option – choose it over Aldi’s standard Portview tuna.
- 100% pole and line caught skipjack tuna.
- Publicly supports marine reserves and does not source from high seas pockets.
- Publicly supports reducing FAD use with purse seine nets.
- Strong on traceability but needs more information on its labels.
4. Coles Pole and Line
Coles was the first retailer to release a house brand pole and line skipjack tuna range. Coles is improving its sustainability rapidly, although its main range of tuna is still caught using destructive methods. If you buy a Coles product, only buy this one.
- 100% pole and line caught skipjack tuna.
- Strong on labelling by supplying species name, catch method and catch area.
- Publicly supports marine reserves and does not source from high seas pockets.
- Promotes reducing the use of destructive FADs with purse seine nets.
- Does little to promote equitable sourcing.
- Contributes little to improving sustainability
of fisheries.
5. John West Pole & Line
John West has finally added a pole and line skipjack tuna product to its range. John West has shown signs of improvement but is yet to make a solid commitment and its main range of tuna is still caught using destructive methods. If you buy a John West product, only buy this one.
- 100% pole and line caught skipjack tuna.
- Strong on labelling by supplying species name, catch method and catch area.
- Publicly supports marine reserves.
- Contributes little to improving sustainability of fisheries.
- John West still uses FADs with purse seine nets for most products
6. Woolworths Pole and Line Albacore
While Woolworths has an overall poor approach to tuna sustainability, this is not a bad product. Pole and line is a sustainable fishing method but albacore tuna is of some concern. If you must buy a Woolworths product, choose this one.
- 100% pole and line caught tuna.
- Third-party audited.
- Albacore tuna is in a less healthy state than skipjack tuna.
- North Pacific Albacore tuna lacks proper
stock assessments.
- This product lacks an equitable sourcing policy.
7. Greenseas
Greenseas still uses destructive FADs with purse seine nets but has committed to phasing them out by 2015. Go for a pole and line option until it does. Deserves credit for strong support of fisheries science and Pacific conservation measures.
- 100% skipjack tuna from the Western Central Pacific Oceans.
- Publicly supports marine reserves and does not source from high seas pockets.
- Offers valuable support for Pacific fisheries scientists and conservation groups.
- Provides good information on its website and recognises its unsustainable practices.
- Good new labelling policy..
- Will still use destructive FADs and purse seine nets until 2015.
8. Coles - Chunks
Coles has made big improvements on traceability and labelling its products. It’s honest with customers about the impact of tuna and supports positive changes to fishing. However, Coles still uses destructive fishing methods and it deliberately drives down the cost of its products, which negatively affects the tuna industry. Go for Coles’ pole and line range instead.
- Coles offers a pole and line range – go for
that instead
- 100% skipjack tuna from the Western Central Pacific Ocean.
- Strong on labelling by supplying species name, catch method and catch area.
- Publicly supports marine reserves and does not source from high seas pockets.
- Promotes reducing the use of destructive FADs with purse seine nets.
- Relies on destructive FADs with purse
seine nets.
- Does nothing to promote equitable sourcing of tuna and unsustainably drives down the price of tuna.
8. Coles
Coles has made big improvements on traceability and labelling its products. It’s honest with customers about the impact of tuna and supports positive changes to fishing. However, Coles still uses destructive fishing methods and it deliberately drives down the cost of its products, which negatively affects the tuna industry. Go for Coles’ pole and line range instead.
- Coles offers a pole and line range – go for
that instead
- 100% skipjack tuna from the Western Central Pacific Ocean.
- Strong on labelling by supplying species name, catch method and catch area.
- Publicly supports marine reserves and does not source from high seas pockets.
- Promotes reducing the use of destructive FADs with purse seine nets.
- Relies on destructive FADs with purse
seine nets.
- Does nothing to promote equitable sourcing of tuna and unsustainably drives down the price of tuna.
8. You'll love Coles
Coles has made big improvements on traceability and labelling. It’s honest with customers about the impact of tuna and supports positive changes to fishing. However, Coles still uses destructive fishing methods and it deliberately drives down the cost of its products, which negatively affects the tuna industry. Go for Coles’ pole and line range instead.
- Coles offers a pole and line range – go for
that instead
- 100% skipjack tuna from the Western Central Pacific Ocean.
- Strong on labelling by supplying species name, catch method and catch area.
- Publicly supports marine reserves and does not source from high seas pockets.
- Promotes reducing the use of destructive FADs with purse seine nets.
- Relies on destructive FADs with purse
seine nets.
- Does nothing to promote equitable sourcing of tuna and unsustainably drives down the price of tuna.
9. Aldi’s Portview
Aldi’s Portview range is a better option than its Oceanrise brand, which contains overfished yellowfin tuna. While Aldi acknowledges FADs with purse seine nets are unsustainable, it continues to sell tuna caught using this destructive method. Choose Aldi’s pole and line option instead.
- Aldi now offers a range of pole and line skipjack tuna – choose that instead.
- 100% skipjack tuna from the Western Central Pacific Ocean.
- Publicly supports marine reserves and does not source from high seas pockets.
- Publicly supports reducing FAD use.
- Strong on traceability but needs more information on its labels.
- Relies on destructive FADs with purse
seine nets.
- Labelling fails to identify the catch method.
10. John West
John West has improved labelling and traceability since last year but still relies on destructive fishing methods – it refuses to rule out FADs with purse seine nets. As the biggest tuna brand, it has a responsibility to do better.
- 100% skipjack tuna from the Western Central Pacific Oceans.
- Does not source from high seas pockets.
- Good traceability and disclosure.
- Labelling includes species name, catch area and catch method.
- The biggest importer of tuna caught using destructive FADs with purse seine nets.
11. Aldi’s Oceanrise
Aldi insists on selling overfished yellowfin tuna in its Oceanrise range and relies on destructive fishing methods. Aldi’s public support for sustainable measures needs to be carried through to its sourcing policy. Choose Aldi’s Portview pole and line range instead.
- Aldi now offers a range of pole and line skipjack tuna under its Portview label – choose
that instead.
- Publicly supports marine reserves and does not source from high seas pockets.
- Publicly supports reducing FAD use.
- Strong on traceability but needs more information on its labels.
- Uses overfished yellowfin tuna.
- Relies on destructive FADs with purse
seine nets.
- Labelling fails to identify the catch method.
12. IGA
IGA is well positioned to make a sustainable change but it relies on destructive fishing methods for most of its tuna and provides misleading information to consumers. IGA is releasing a pole and line range – until this is available in your store, choose another brand.
- 100% skipjack tuna from the Western Central Pacific Oceans.
- Reasonable labelling but fails to identify
catch area.
- Relies on destructive FADs with purse
seine nets.
- No guarantee not to source from high
seas pockets
- Provides misleading sustainability information to consumers.
12. Black & Gold
IGA’s Black & Gold is well positioned to make a sustainable change but it relies on destructive fishing methods for most of its tuna and provides misleading information to consumers. IGA is releasing a pole and line range – until this is available in your store, choose another brand.
- 100% skipjack tuna from the Western Central Pacific Oceans.
- IReasonable labelling but fails to identify
catch area.
- Relies on destructive FADs with purse
seine nets.
- No guarantee not to source from high
seas pockets
- Provides misleading sustainability information to consumers.
13. Sirena
Sirena’s product is mostly overfished yellowfin tuna, a species listed as ‘near threatened’. Although its disclosure and traceability has improved, it should follow most Australian brands and stop selling yellowfin. Sirena’s limited support of development projects is nonetheless commendable.
- Supports positive sustainability and development initiatives.
- Good traceability but needs to be
more transparent. -
- Has committed to improving labelling but is
still behind.
- Relies on destructive FADs with purse
seine nets.
- Uses overfished yellowfin tuna.
14. Woolworths - Select
Woolworths has no sustainability policy for canned tuna. Woolworths has failed to keep up with competitors and doesn’t respect its customers’ rights to full and accurate information. A new pole and line range is a step forward but Woolworths is still stuck in the past.
- Woolworths offers a pole and line product under its house brand – if you must buy Woolworths, choose that.
- Labels the species name for most products but doesn’t disclose catch area or method.
- Relies on destructive FADs with purse
seine nets.
- No public policy that ensures sustainably or equitably sourced canned tuna.
- Seafood policy does not include canned tuna and is misleading to consumers.
- No guarantee not to source from high
seas pockets.
- Has provided no evidence that it has full traceability of its supply chain.
14. Woolworths - Homebrand
Woolworths has no sustainability policy for canned tuna. Woolworths has failed to keep up with competitors and doesn’t respect its customers’ rights to full and accurate information. A new pole and line range is a step forward but Woolworths is still stuck in the past.
- Woolworths offers a pole and line product under its house brand – if you must buy Woolworths, choose that.
- Labels the species name for most products but doesn’t disclose catch area or method.
- Relies on destructive FADs with purse
seine nets.
- No public policy that ensures sustainably or equitably sourced canned tuna.
- Seafood policy does not include canned tuna and is misleading to consumers.
- No guarantee not to source from high
seas pockets.
- Has provided no evidence that it has full traceability of its supply chain.
15. Sole Mare
Sole Mare is the least transparent tuna brand trading in Australia. Its entire product line is based on overfished yellowfin tuna. Sole Mare needs to switch to a more sustainable species like skipjack, drop destructive fishing methods and provide its customers with a reasonable amount of information. Sole Mare is repetitively disappointing.
- Exclusively trades overfished yellowfin tuna.
- Does not provide information on the fishing method it uses or the catch area.
- No guarantee not to source from high
seas pockets.
- Has provided no evidence that it has full traceability of its supply chain.