Sales of certified sustainable tuna have more than doubled in the last five years, according to a new report published by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
More than 54,000 tonnes of MSC-certified tuna were sold in 2018/19, compared with 21,500 tonnes in 2015/16. The figures for 2019/20 are expected to be even higher. Thanks to consumer expectations, 28% of tuna is now certified to MSC standards.
“Although tuna is one of the world’s most widely consumed and popular fish, the reality is that around a third of tuna stocks remain in a fragile state,” warned Bill Holden, the MSC’s global tuna expert. “By buying tuna with the blue MSC label, shoppers are playing their part in ensuring tuna stocks are secured for future generations.”
The global tuna market is worth more than US$42 billion a year with 65% of stocks considered to be in a healthy state. The volume of tuna caught to the MSC’s globally recognised standard for sustainable fishing more than doubled from 700,000 tonnes in 2014 to 1.4 million tonnes in September 2019 and there are now 29 MSC-certified tuna fisheries.
With the coronavirus pandemic leading to a recent surge in demand for canned tuna, the MSC is urging producers and consumers to continue their commitment to sustainable tuna. Published to mark World Tuna Day on 2 May, the MSC’s Tuna Handbook provides a comprehensive guide to sourcing sustainable tuna.
