New research from financial think tank Planet Tracker has, for the first time, revealed the actual tuna catch volumes of the world’s 30 largest tuna fishing companies, uncovering a startling lack of transparency in the US$40 billion global industry.
The report, Tuna Turner: Investors Must Turn Up Transparency in the Tuna Industry, uses satellite data from Global Fishing Watch to reconstruct the catch activity of over 2,100 industrial tuna vessels.
These vessels – collectively dubbed the Tuna 30 – account for 46% of the global tuna catch, or 2.4 million tonnes annually. Yet only four companies report any tuna catch volumes, and just one (Bolton Group) discloses data on species, location, catch method and certifications.
“It is shocking that 26 out of the world’s 30 largest tuna fishing companies do not disclose how much tuna they catch,” said François Mosnier, head of nature at Planet Tracker.
“Without this data, investors cannot assess the sustainability risks tied to their portfolios.”
The study found that 56% of the Tuna 30’s catch is ‘dark’, meaning it cannot be attributed to any company due to missing ownership records or switched-off satellite tracking (AIS).
Most companies appear to spend more time fishing with their AIS turned off than on, raising serious concerns about accountability and potential illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The report also warns that several companies harvest a significant share of tuna from overfished or vulnerable stocks, and some, including Albacora, Maruha Nichiro and Sajo, are likely involved in catching endangered species.
Planet Tracker is urging investors to push for full catch and AIS disclosure as a baseline for responsible investment in the seafood sector.
