The U.S. Pacific Tuna Group Purse Seine FSC and FAD Set Fishery announced on 8 June that it has achieved Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
The tuna group, based in Emeryville, California, U.S.A., operates seven vishing vessels targeting Eastern and Western Central Pacific skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna. The group uses purse seines – both free school and using fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the Western Central Pacific Ocean, according to a release from SCS Global Services.
SCS Global Services performed the assessment, which found that no performance indicators in the fishery failed to reach a minimum score of 60, and according to SCS the average score was above 80.
“Congratulations to the US Pacific Group for this independent third-party recognition of leadership and commitment to sustainable fishing practices,” U.S. Pacific Tuna Group Coordinators Bill Sardinha and Cary Gann said. “It was an honor working with this group throughout the MSC assessment process.”
With the successful certification, tuna caught by the U.S. Pacific Tuna Group Purse Seine FSD and FAD Set Fishery can carry the blue MSC label. According to the MSC, in 2019 the fishery caught 2,527 metric tons (MT) of bigeye tuna, 61,646 MT of skipjack tuna, and 9,450 MT of yellowfin tuna.
“After successfully passing a scientifically-based independent assessment, the US Pacific Tuna Group’s MSC certification demonstrates that its wild-caught tuna fishery throughout the western and eastern Pacific Ocean is managed sustainably, helping to safeguard seafood for the future, protect people’s livelihoods, keep oceans full of life and respect its habitats,” SCS Global Services’ Program Manager for MSC Fisheries Gabriela Anhalzer said.
