American Tuna has announced that it is launching Pole & Line Tuna and Deck Hand Premium Cat Food, which will available exclusively at Whole Foods Market starting this spring.

All Pole & Line and Deck Hand tuna are caught by artisanal fishermen using Pole & Line, in which fish are caught one at a time. In addition, every can of tuna can be traced to its source. Pole & Line Albacore, caught off the U.S. Pacific Coast by U.S. fishermen, is even traceable to a specific vessel and boat captain, while Pole & Line Skipjack (caught in the Maldives, Indian Ocean) and Deck Hand Premium Cat Food can be traced to a specific batch.

All fish are harvested in two Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fisheries: the MSC certified U.S. Pole & Line albacore fishery and the MSC certified Maldivian Pole & Line fishery.

“Our partnership with Whole Foods Market is helping fishing families keep a century-old tradition of sustainable, small-scale fishing alive,” said Natalie Webster, a member of one of the founding families at American Tuna. “On the U.S. Pacific Coast, our sustainable approach supports the livelihood of artisanal U.S. fishermen, while in the Indian Ocean, our partnership with Maldivian fishermen supports their local economy. Pole & Line and Deck Hand brands enhance the economic opportunities and well-being of fishing families, sustainable fisheries and coastal communities.”

With the Pole & Line method, fishermen use barbless hooks and poles to catch younger tuna one at a time near the sea’s surface. Younger tuna are naturally lower in mercury and higher in omega-3 fatty acids than their older, deeper-swimming counterparts.

“Every aspect of Pole & Line, from sustainability to nutrition to traceability, has been carefully thought through,” said Dwight Richmond, global grocery purchasing coordinator for Whole Foods Market. “These products bring true innovation to the tuna category with an end result of higher quality for consumers at a great low price.”

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