Greenpeace asks shoppers to fish around for ethical tuna

Greenpeace asks shoppers to fish around for ethical tuna

A new report by Greenpeace Canada might make you reconsider eating a tuna sandwich.

The environmental group says most canned tuna in Canada is fished from at-risk species using "destructive" fishing methods.

Greenpeace, which has been lobbying Canadian retailers to adopt sustainable seafood policies, looked at how and where canned tuna sold by 14 companies across the country is caught.

Greenpeace looked at major retailers, such as Loblaws and Metro, as well as national brands, such as Clover Leaf and Pastene. It found that most retailers have adopted or are working on sustainability policies to avoid tuna caught using purse seine nets or longlines, which, in addition to tuna, can catch other species of fish as well as sharks and sea turtles.

But few of the companies have actually implemented their policies because they are focused more on fresh fish and seafood right now, said Greenpeace spokeswoman Sarah King.
Several companies are selling yellowfin tuna, a species the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization considers fully exploited, and in some parts of the world may be overexploited.

Only Wild Planet Foods and Raincoast Trading got a passing grade from Greenpeace because they clearly explain what kinds of tuna they use — albacore and skipjack — and where and how their fish were caught — in both cases, without longlines.

Clover Leaf, the company with the largest market share of canned tuna in Canada, failed because it didn't answer any of the environmental group's questions. King said she didn't know why Clover Leaf didn't respond, and the company could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

A spokesman for the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation — made up of industry and conservation groups — said it is taking steps to change practices on the water to make tuna fishing more sustainable, including projects to eliminate bycatch, such sea turtles, in tuna fishing.

For consumers, King said the best choice is to cut back on tuna consumption.

If they do want to buy canned tuna, they should avoid yellowfin and choose products from Wild Planet Foods and Raincoast Trading, which are usually found in the natural section of grocery stores or at health-food stores.Read More ...

Posted in: environment