Demand for MSC-certified tuna and fishing industry interest is expected to see “wild catch” tuna tonnage double from the waters of the (PNA) in 2017.
PNA operates a MSC certified free school caught skipjack and yellowfin tuna fishery in the western and central Pacific fishing zones of its member nations.
Ludwig Kumoru, PNA CEO, said: “We expect the volume to double to about 100,000 metric tons in 2017 based upon existing orders.”
He added: “With strong fishing industry buy-in for PNA’s MSC-certified fishery, we see the market for sustainably caught tuna continuing to grow.”
“This benefits everyone — the fisheries industry, retailers, and PNA members. Most importantly, catching tuna without using fish aggregating devices (FADs) means tuna are being fished sustainably.”
A “free school” catch means a catch by purse seiners without the aid of FADs. This is verified by onboard fisheries observers at sea where the free school tuna is rigidly segregated in the hold of a purse seiner, and a rigorous chain of custody system is in place through transshipping to a processing plant. As well as finally to the retailer so that consumers know with absolute confidence the story behind the tuna they buy in the store.
From the initial MSC certification in December 2012, it took another year for PNA to develop and implement the rigorous chain of custody and traceability system before tuna was marketed as MSC-certified sustainably caught fish.
Since 2014, the volume of MSC-certified tuna from PNA waters marketed globally has continued to increase exponentially as more industry players see the benefit of participating in the scheme.
Fishing vessels that deliver free school caught tuna that meets the strict sustainability guidelines get as much as $100 per tonnes extra, and retailers are able to sell this tuna at a premium because it is sustainably caught.
The PNA established Pacifical as its marketing co-brand for pMSC-certified tuna, which in turn is paying dividends to PNA members from this Pacifical tuna marketed in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, USA and elsewhere.
Retailers are paying up to a 20 percent premium for MSC-certified Pacifical tuna compared to tuna caught using FADs.
Mr Kumoru concluded: “There has been huge buy-in by private tuna labels and growing interest from brands globally. Today, over 200 purse seiners are participating in the PNA scheme, which is why we anticipate the volume of MSC-certified tuna delivered to market to rise to 100,000 metric tons in 2017.”
