* Sealord’s canned tuna is caught unsustainably.

That's because Sealord gets its tuna from companies using one of the worst fishing methods – a method which catches endangered sharks, turtles, juvenile tuna and other ocean life as well. These creatures are known as bycatch and are often thrown back into the ocean inured, dead or dying. That’s exploitation, not expertise.

Sealord needs to clean up its act if it wants to live up to the ‘seafood experts’ image it advertises and achieve its goal of becoming the ‘most trusted seafood company’. Sealord must stop sourcing tuna caught using purse seine nets set around fish aggregation devices (FADs) – a deadly combination which is threatening vital tuna stocks and destroying marine life.

FADs are used to lure tuna but also attract other ocean life which is then scooped up in huge purse seine nets. According to figures circulated by Sealord FADs increase the bycatch of purse seine fisheries up to 10 times more than other more sustainable methods. This wasteful method also has serious impact on tuna stocks, as juvenile and undersized tunas make up 15-20 per cent of the catch

All of the UK’s major canned tuna brands have announced they’re phasing out tuna caught by purse seines using FADs. Here in New Zealand, Pams tuna has shifted its canned tuna range to pole and line or FAD-free tuna. Sealord, and other brands of canned tuna sold in New Zealand, must do the same.

Recently, Sealord announced it was updating its branding. Sealord needs to change more than just its logo. Tell Sealord to change its tuna and move to more sustainable fishing methods.