Greenpeace canned tuna ranking

Standard Page - 13 May, 2011
Tuna brands play a key role in the overfishing crisis by selling us unsustainable tuna. It's time every brand takes responsibility.

Welcome to the Greenpeace canned tuna ranking. Thanks to consumers demanding change, Australians now have a greater number of sustainable canned tuna options at the shops. 'Pole and line' options are now on more shelves than ever. In 2013, every major brand and supermarket has pledged to end destructive tuna fishing practices — in particular, fish aggregating devices (FADs) used with huge nets. We're thrilled that Australia is the second country to have this level of commitment. However there are still some big differences between Australian tuna products and brands. Use our guide to help you make the right choice.

So what Tuna should I buy?

It’s simple, put 'pole and line' into your basket and you will be making the right choice for our oceans.  Thankfully, you can now find a variety these products in every supermarket in Australia.

Safcol was the first major brand to sell 100% 'pole and line' and, along with Fish4Ever, it still sits at the top of the ranking.  Companies that made the switch early and only sell responsibly fished products deserve your support first.

But you can also safely buy 'pole and line' products from ALDI, Coles, Woolworths, IGA and John West.  In fact, by the end of this year all of Woolworths 'Select' tuna should be 'pole and line', plus all IGA 'Signature' will be FAD-free.

Besides the fishing method used, there is still progress to be made on issues like funding for research, better conditions for fishermen and workers, and support for important measures like marine reserves. For the remaining brands and products that are still caught with FADs, Australian consumers will still have to wait a few years. 

But until we've finished the job,  stick to our guide and you'll find it easy to make the right choice for our oceans.

Roll your mouse over a brand on the left to see how they rate

Fish4Ever

This UK company provides the best example of 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. Fish4Ever is still the benchmark.
  • 100% pole and line caught tuna.
  • Promotes sustainable tuna in political, industry and consumer fora.
  • Supports local coastal fisheries and pays a premium price to local fishers.
  • Clear, honest, comprehensive labelling.
  • Could improve on baitfish management.
  • Should phase out overfished yellowfin

Safcol

Safcol was 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.
  • Good labelling.
  • Supports fisheries improvement programs for pole and line.
  • Could improve accuracy of consumer information and provide clearer labelling of catch area.

Greenseas

Greenseas has made the positive commitment to stop using destructive fish aggregating devices (FADs) by 2015. Deserves credit for providing financial support to improve Pacific fisheries science and conservation measures.
  • Will phase out FADs by 2015.
  • 100% skipjack tuna from the Western Central Pacific Ocean.
  • Publicly supports marine reserves and does not source from the Pacific Commons.
  • Offers valuable support for Pacific fisheries scientists and conservation groups.
  • Provides good information on its website and recognises its unsustainable practices.
  • Good labelling for species, catch method and fishing area.
  • Should offer a pole and line alternative until FAD-free hits shelves.
  • Will still use FADs until 2015

John West

John West has committed to stop using destructive fish aggregating devices (FADs). All tuna will be free school and 'pole and line' by 2015. Combined with John West's major improvements to traceability, this brand is poised to be a leader. Must still improve labelling. Until FAD commitment is implemented, stick with 'pole and line' tuna.
  • 100% skipjack tuna, mostly from the Western Central Pacific Ocean.
  • Supports marine reserves.
  • Good traceability.
  • Labelling does not include the catch area or fishing method.
  • Will still use FADs until 2015

Make a better choice

Until its new sustainability commitment is implemented in 2015 it's best to stick to John West's pole and line range. If you choose John West, choose this.

Coles

Coles’ new commitment to 100% FAD-free and 'pole and line' tuna by 2015 is fantastic news for our oceans, especially in light of the supermarket giant adding to its sustainable range this year. Coles rates well on labelling and traceability. It is clearly ahead of its main competitor, Woolworths. If you wish to buy Coles, choose its 'pole and line' or albacore range until it has implemented its FAD-free commitment.
  • Good species choices - skipjack and southern albacore tuna from the Western Central Pacific Ocean plus 'pole and line' skipjack from the Maldives.
  • Strong on labelling by supplying species name, catch method and catch area.
  • Supports marine reserves.
  • Provides two responsible options.
  • Will still use FADs until 2015

Make a better choice

Coles mostly uses destructive fishing methods for its tuna. However, it does offer a 'pole and line' product and a trolling product. If you must choose Coles, choose one of these.

IGA

IGA has made big improvements to labelling and disclosure over the past year and has recently made a pledge to responsible fishing methods. IGA has made a public commitment to sell 100% FAD-free tuna by 2013 for its 'Signature' range, and 2015 for 'Black & Gold'. IGA also added a 'pole and line' range to its private label.
  • 100% skipjack tuna from the Western Central Pacific Oceans.
  • Good labelling that now includes species, catch area and fishing method.
  • Supports Pacific Commons marine reserves and fisheries improvement.
  • Offers a 'pole and line' option.
  • Has committed to FAD-free tuna.

Make a better choice

IGA has committed to end destructive fishing methods by mid-2015 for all its tuna - although its 'signature' range will be FAD-free by the end of 2013. It also offers this pole and line product. For now, if you choose IGA, choose this.

Sirena

Sirena has become the third home-grown brand to commit to 100% 'pole and line' and FAD-free tuna. We expect to see the transition by 2016 or sooner. Unfortunately, Sirena uses almost entirely overfished yellowfin tuna.
  • Supports positive sustainability and development initiatives.
  • Has added pole and line and skipjack tuna to its sourcing.
  • Good traceability and labelling with catch method, species and catch area.
  • Uses overfished yellowfin tuna.

ALDI

ALDI was once among the better brands, yet it was overtaken by most of its competitors recently. Has shown leadership on traceability. A recent commitment to 100% FAD-free or 'pole and line' tuna is good news, but 2016 is a long way off. ALDI's Portview range is a better option than its Oceanrise brand, which contains overfished yellowfin tuna. For now, stick to their good range of 'pole and line' caught skipjack tuna.
  • Publicly supports marine reserves and does not source from high seas pockets.
  • Offers a 'pole and line' option.
  • Publicly supports reducing FAD use.
  • Strong on traceability but needs more information on its labels.
  • Needs more information on its labels.
  • Still using overfished yellowfin tuna.
  • Most ALDI tuna will still be caught using FADs until 2016.

Make a better choice

ALDI mostly uses destructive fishing methods for its tuna. However, it does offer this 'pole and line' product. If you must choose ALDI, choose this.

Woolworths

Woolworths has gone from the bottom of the ladder to one of the big improvers. It has declared that all its 'Select' brand tuna will be 100% 'pole and line' caught by the end of this year, plus its 'Home brand' will be FAD-free one year later.  While this is great news, stick with available pole and line products until the new policy is implemented.  And avoid its yellowfin tuna slices.
  • Offers a pole and line option.
  • Will be approximately one third 'pole and line' caught by the end of 2013.
  • Will be 100% FAD-free and 'pole and line' by 2015.
  • Labels the species name for most products but doesn't disclose catch area or fishing method.
  • Home brand will still be caught with FADs until 2015.
  • Still selling yellowfin tuna.
  • No available policy that ensures equitable sourcing.
  • No guarantee not to source from Pacific Commons.
  • Has provided no evidence that it has full traceability of its supply chain.

Make a better choice

Woolworths mostly uses destructive fishing methods for its tuna. However, it does offer this 'pole and line' product. If you must choose Woolworths, choose this.

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 tuna, drop destructive fishing methods and provide its customers with a reasonable amount of information. Sole Mare is repetitively disappointing.
  • Exclusively uses 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.

What tuna should I buy?

Most tuna brands remain hooked on destructive fishing practices, which threaten tuna stocks and unnecessarily kill other marine life.

Thankfully, consumer pressure has forced many brands to change their tuna. You can now buy sustainable ‘pole and line’ caught tuna in nearly every supermarket around Australia.

Put one of these products into your basket and make a better choice for our oceans.

How were brands ranked?

The tuna brands were ranked based on the following criteria:

Sustainability Policy

It is essential that companies have in place an effective policy that ensures their products are produced sustainably.

Fishing methods used

Most tuna is caught using purse seine nets with fish aggregation devices (FADs), a method responsible for high levels of bycatch including sharks and other marine life, as well as juvenile tuna from threatened species. In contrast, 'pole and line' fishing offers a less wasteful solution, with reduced bycatch. 'Pole and line' fisheries also tend to offer greater economic returns to local populations. Purse seine fishing without FADs is an acceptable secondary option.

Tuna species used

Each tuna species is under different levels of pressure. Bigeye and yellowfin tuna are overfished and at risk. Skipjack tuna is declining, but is the tuna species of least concern.

Labelling

Providing comprehensive information on labels gives customers the opportunity to make an informed choice based on the product’s sustainability. Labels should include the species name, catch method and the area the fish was caught in.

Support for marine reserves and equitable tuna policies

Companies should offer public support for the establishment of marine reserves, including the proposed protected areas known as, the Pacific Commons. This will ensure the long-term sustainability of fish stocks and healthy marine ecosystems. It is equally important that reasonable economic benefits are returned to the countries who own the rights to individual fish stocks.

Use of illegal or unregulated products

Illegal fishing accounts for up to 46% of fishing activity in the Pacific. This is exacerbating the overfishing crisis. Companies must be able to guarantee their supply chain does not include operators that engage in illegal, unregulated or unreported (IUU) fishing.

The information has been obtained from a combination of brand responses to a Greenpeace product survey, correspondence with brands and retailers, publicly available information and product evaluation.

Greenpeace is grateful for the assistance provided by retailers and brand suppliers in providing relevant information as well as for the assistance provided by various third party experts.

Glossary

Bycatch

Unwanted marine life caught when fishing, such as sharks, turtles and juvenile tuna. Some fishing methods have a higher rate of bycatch than others.

Fish aggregating devices or FADs

Fish and marine life are attracted to these floating objects. Highly destructive particularly when used with purse seine nets.

High sea pockets

Also known as international waters or Pacific Commons, these areas fall outside the jurisdiction of nations and are targeted by illegal vessels. We want them to become marine reserves.

Illegal, unreported, unregulated vessels

They steal fish, which exacerbates the overfishing crisis. Also known as pirate fishing vessels.

Longliners

Their lines are sometimes hundreds of kilometres long, baited with thousands of hooks. Very destructive.

Marine reserves

Similar to national parks on land, they are areas free from fishing and other activities. Essential to replenish marine ecosystems.

Pole and line

One of the most sustainable methods of catching tuna because each fish is individually caught. Look out for pole and line caught tuna in your supermarket.

Purse seines

Giant nets that encircle schools of fish and then are drawn tight like a drawstring purse. Very destructive when used with FADs (how most tuna is caught), much better when FAD-free.

Skipjack tuna

The healthiest species
of tuna.

Southern bluefin tuna

Critically endangered. Mostly used in sushi.

Albacore tuna

Near-threatened. Better options available.

Yellowfin tuna

Near-threatened and continues to be overfished.

Bigeye tuna

Vulnerable.
 
 

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