March 26, 2023 — A recent report by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership on the impacts of commercial tuna longline fishing has led the world’s largest tuna company to call for restoration of endangered species.
One of the world’s leading seafood producers and one of the largest producers of shelf-stable tuna products, bringing seafood products to customers across the world for 45 years, the Thai Union Group PLC, recently announced its commitment to only source from vessels that are implementing best practices to protect ocean wildlife from bycatch.
The decision is based on research by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) on the risks to sharks, seabirds, turtles and other marine wildlife in the fisheries that supply the company and an analysis by Key Traceability of Thai Union’s tuna fishery improvement projects and in the highest risk fisheries that were identified in the audit.
“Environmental organizations are pointing to the biodiversity and species loss crisis that the planet is facing. The report by SFP notes the significant loss of ETP species in the Western Central Pacific Ocean region,” noted Adam Brennan, group director, sustainability at Thai Union. “We want to do more to ensure that we are sourcing from vessels that are doing everything they can to avoid and reduce bycatch.”
Known for top-selling, household-name tuna brands, including Chicken of the Sea and John West Thai Union highlighted a new 2030 commitment for its fisheries, building on its larger seafood sustainability efforts over the past seven years. Specifically, Thai Union will:
By 2030, all vessels to implement best practices to protect endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species; and
Fulfill its existing commitment (by 2025) of 100 percent observer coverage (human or electronic) on tuna vessels through direct work with its suppliers and service providers.