John West on Tuesday announced that it’s launching a range of pole and line-caught tuna products as part of a new commitment to source only fish harvested in a sustainable, environmentally friendly manner.
As part of its five-year plan — which was developed in conjunction with Greenpeace, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) and marine scientists — John West by the end of 2016 will source 100 percent of its tuna sold in the United Kingdom from “audited” pole-and-line tuna fisheries and will not source tuna caught in a purse seine using fish aggregating devices (FADs).
The pledge calls for John West to gradually phase out the use of FAD-caught tuna; it will source at least 25 percent of its UK tuna sales from pole-and-line fisheries by the end of 2012, at least 35 percent by the end of 2013 and at least 50 percent by the end of 2014.
Meanwhile, in September John West will roll out a new range of pole and line-caught tuna products comprising of an 185-gram can of Tuna Chunks priced at GBP 1.59 and three 80-gram cans of Tuna Chunks priced at GBP 2.09; both will be available in brine, sunflower oil and springwater. John West called the new range “a significant investment.”
“The launch of our genuine transparent and detailed plan for tuna sustainability marks a step change in our business,” said Paul Reenan, John West managing director. “We will need full support of boat owners, retailers and consumers to meet our goals. We know we have a long way to go to meet these challenging targets, but we are committed to continuing to place sustainable fishing practices at the heart of our business.”
Greenpeace praised John West’s move. “These welcome commitments from John West complete the ground-breaking shifts seen in the UK since Greenpeace’s tinned-tuna campaign launched in January,” said John Sauven, Greenpeace UK executive director. “The rapid launch of a new John West pole and line tuna range sets the bar for the rest of the UK’s supermarkets and tuna brands who have newly committed to deliver sustainable tuna. Historic changes have taken place in the UK, the world’s second largest consumer of tuna. The time is ripe for companies worldwide to deliver sustainable tuna in a way that protects tuna stocks and our oceans.”
