EII releases Annual Report on Dolphin Safe tuna

The program began in the early 90s and now encompasses now more than 508 tuna companies, brokers, fishermen, and retail outlets in 70 countries. All Dolphin Safe companies commit to tuna fishing practices which do not encircle dolphins and reduce bycatch of turtles, albatross and sharks. Dolphin mortality in the Eastern Tropical Pacific has consequently decreased by 98% since the launching of the programme.

Tuna companies have to be Dolphin Safe approved by EII in order to apply for Friend of the Sea certification. Twenty tuna fisheries and fleets have been approved Friend of the Sea, over 60 companies have products certified, and 375 tuna vessels have been approved by Friend of the Sea worldwide.

“The Earth Island Institute’s Dolphin Safe project has been the precursor project of the sustainable seafood movement,” explains Paolo Bray, director of Friend of the Sea and European coordinator of the Dolphin Safe program. “When the EII started the Monitoring Program, 30 years ago, 'sustainability' was an almost unknown word in the industry.”

“Verifying the dolphin-safe operations of tuna companies around the world has been instrumental for the protection of dolphins and other marine lives as well as providing consumers’ confidence in tuna products,” comments David C. Phillips, executive director of the Earth Island Institute, “The Earth Island Institute fully supports Friend of the Sea and invites Dolphin Safe companies to join the program.”

To read the 2013 Annual Report please click here.