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Greenpeace launches initiative for markets to “pre-order” sustainable skipjack tuna
Many stocks
of tuna species are dangerously in decline. Even fisheries not yet fully
exploited are using fishing methods that negatively impact juvenile tuna and
other vulnerable species such as sharks and turtles, leaving the marine
environment in peril.
Skipjack
tuna is often harvested by purse seine fleets operated by companies from
industrial fishing nations from the North, leaving very little of the social
and economic benefits in the hands of coastal states (1). However, many coastal
states, such as the Pacific Island countries, are in a prime position to
develop a sustainable pole and line skipjack industry. Pole and line fishing is
a method well-suited to local use, providing income and livelihoods to coastal
communities and therefore providing a more equitable product (2).
“Pole and
line fishing has the potential to be a selective and most environmentally-sound
method of fishing skipjack,” said Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International
oceans campaigner. “If conducted properly, it can have very low bycatch levels and
also ensure a much higher quality of fish, as every fish caught is brought on
board alive.”
There is
currently little choice available for sustainable and equitable supplies of the
world’s favourite fish on the supermarket shelves. Greenpeace has launched a
“pre-order petition” to encourage retailers, restaurants and other tuna traders
to actively seek coastal state partners willing to develop pole and line
operations and assist in ensuring market access and capacity-building on the
ground.
“Demonstrating the market demand of better products will be key to encouraging and empowering tuna-rich nations to develop sustainable and equitable pole and line skipjack industry and limit the access of foreign industrial fleets to their waters,” said Tolvanen. “With skipjack accounting for over half of the world’s tuna catches, retailers should support sustainable and equitable options through a transition towards local pole and line tuna fisheries (3)”.
The online
“pre-order petition” for pole and line caught skipjack tuna is available at: http://seafood.greenpeace.org/preordertuna/
Related Reports
Notes to Editor
(1) The Pacific Island states, for example, receive on average a mere 6%3 of the USD 3 billion value of the tuna caught in their waters. Local fishermen find their once tuna-rich waters depleted; there are few jobs for local people, and as most of the catch is exported there are also food security issues.
(2) The accompanying employment benefits could help fight poverty in the region, and provide livelihoods and income to local communities, as has been the case in the Maldives. At present, Maldives has a fleet of over 1000 pole and line vessels, employing over 20,000 fisherman and many more in boat-building, processing and other support roles.
(3) Retailers should source sustainable and equitable tuna through a transition towards local pole and line skipjack fisheries, ensuring the following:
o Tuna does not come from stocks that are overfished or where overfishing is occurring and that the coastal state has an adequate management plan is in place to limit the number of vessels and effort involved in the fishery to sustainable levels;
o Significant bycatch of yellowfin tuna or any other species association with the pole and line fishery is mitigated;
o If FADs are used, they are closely monitored and managed;
o The coastal state has an effective bait fish monitoring and management plan in place that avoids overfishing, bycatch and other negative ecosystem impacts; and
o The coastal state also works towards implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries, including a network of marine reserves to ensure the long-term well-being of its marine environment and resources.
Contact information
-
Patrizia Cuonzo
Ottho Heldringstraat 5
1066 AZ Amsterdam NL
Telephone: +31 (0) 646162038
Fax: 31 (0) 20 5148156
-
Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International oceans campaigner: +31 (0)6 5512 5480
Lara Teunissen, Greenpeace International communications: +31 (0) 6 4616 2042
