Law firms representing Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea and Starkist have issued cease and desist letters, claiming defamation and trademark infringement, to censor a new two-minute animation that deals with the enormous problem of bycatch, or unintentional catch, created by the fishing methods used by the biggest US tuna companies.
Greenpeace is declining to remove the video. “We believe the American public has a right to know how their tuna is caught, and of the swathe of dead marine creatures, from turtles and sharks to marlin, seabirds, and future breeding stock that lie behind so many of their favorite tuna products,” said Senior Campaigner Casson Trenor.
“In their clumsy and litigious attempt to hide their dirty little secret, the industry has illustrated the lengths to which they will go to keep their methods in the shadows.
“A simpler and more sustainable approach would be to stop using destructive fishing methods and switch to sustainable fishing, such as pole and line or FAD free fishing.
“Every major tuna brand in the United Kingdom has made a commitment to do just that. The real scandal here is that Bumble Bee and Starkist would rather threaten an environmental organization with attorneys letters than consider the same approach,” Mr Trenor said.
The video can be viewed here: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/tuna_secret/
More information about tuna fishing is available here: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/oceans/seafood/tuna/
For further information, please contact Keiller MacDuff 202 679 2236
