Greenpeace calls on markets to pre-order sustainable skipjack tuna

Many stocks of tuna species are dangerously in decline, however, Greenpeace says that many coastal states, such as the Pacific Island countries, are in a prime position to develop a sustainable pole and line skipjack industry. Pole and line fishing is a method well-suited to local use, providing income and livelihoods to coastal communities and therefore providing a more equitable product.

“Pole and line fishing has the potential to be a selective and most environmentally-sound method of fishing skipjack,” said Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International oceans campaigner. “If conducted properly, it can have very low bycatch levels and also ensure a much higher quality of fish, as every fish caught is brought on board alive.”

There is currently little choice available for sustainable and equitable supplies of the world's favourite fish on the supermarket shelves. Greenpeace has launched a “pre-order petition” to encourage retailers, restaurants and other tuna traders to actively seek coastal state partners willing to develop pole and line operations and assist in ensuring market access and capacity-building on the ground.

World Fishing also met with Nina Thüllen, Greenpeace's consumer markets project leader at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels. She explained how the organisation is trying to push the industry into taking action on IUU seafood, primarily by encouraging seafood buyers not to purchase any seafood from companies or vessels listed on Greenpeace's IUU website.

Ms Thüllen also said that the organisation wants to alert companies to communicate with governments on the issue of IUU fishing and that there are strong negatives associated with illegal fishing - she stressed that it is in the company's interests to eliminate IUU fishing in order for all companies to have a level playing field.