The Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association (ASBTIA) has obtained Friend of the Sea certification after a review process indicated it meets the organization’s standards.
The association is a pioneer of global tuna farming, and represents the southern bluefin tuna industry in Australia. The group’s members represent 90 percent of Australia’s quota, including Australian Fishing Enterprises – which holds more than 50 percent of Australia’s quota and is the largest quota holder of southern bluefin tuna in the Southern Hemisphere.
“ASBTIA has a long track record of innovation in fish farming and a commitment to environmentally sound practices,” Paolo Bray, director of Friend of the Sea, said in a release announcing the decision. “We are honored that ASBTIA belongs to our family of certified companies.”
With the certification, the brands associated with ASBTIA can now display the Friend of the Sea eco-label on their products. ASBTIA members include Tony’s Tuna, Marnikol Fisheries, Sekol Farmed Tuna, Dinko Tuna Farmers, Sarin Marine Farm, Sarin Group, Stehr Group, Eyre Tuna, AFE, ATF, and Blaslov Fishing.
Friends of the Sea lauded the South Australia-based ASBTIA as being a leader in global tuna farming since 1991, and recognized the association’s work to stay within the quota and adhere to fishing standards that will not exploit marine resources.
“ASBTIA works to maintain a high level of quality and performance. They are guided by a philosophy of continuous improvement and full traceability,” Friends of the Sea stated.
According to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), the catch limit for southern bluefin tuna for the 2019 2020 season is 6,165 metric tons.
Southern bluefin tuna is the major tuna species produced in Australia, with Japan as the major destination for Australian tuna exports. The tuna businesses in Australia is hoping to continue to have access to the Japanese market when the southern bluefin tuna longline season starts later this year.
The Friends of the Sea sustainable seafood certification helps consumers choose sustainable seafood products from the shelves, or at sustainable seafood restaurants.
Photo courtesy of Friend of the Sea
