Saving Seafood

Lifeblood For Pacific Islands Threatened As Warming Ocean Drives Tuna East

June 9, 2025 — Adrian Wickham is worried. He sits quietly in the back of a cavernous conference hall, fiddling with his fedora as he listens to Pacific island nation leaders, renowned marine scientists and international fishery managers talk tuna.

Wickham knows tuna. That’s been his business for decades as the manager of SolTuna, the Solomon Islands’ only cannery. And it’s been his country’s lifeblood for generations, providing food, jobs and a reliable revenue stream for government services.

He didn’t need to fly 200 miles from Noro, where SolTuna is based, to a United Nations gathering to know that things are changing. The tuna are moving out.

Fishermen have been working harder to catch fewer fish in recent years, and it’s getting worse. By adding bigger and better boats to the primary fleet that supplies the cannery, SolTuna has continued to grow. Without a new plan, those days seem numbered.

Warming waters are driving the tuna east where their prey — squid, shrimp, sardines, whatever they can find — has become more abundant in cooler waters farther out at sea. That’s why 300 delegates from 28 countries, including Wickham, have come together. It’s an economic crisis, fueled by climate change, and perhaps the most perplexing problem they’ll confront at the Honiara Summit.

Read the full article at the Civil Beat

Bumble Bee asks court to dismiss lawsuit alleging forced labor in tuna supply chain

June 9, 2025 — U.S. canned tuna producer Bumble Bee Foods has asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that it knowingly benefited from its suppliers’ use of forced labor by Indonesian workers.

Earlier this year, four Indonesian men filed a complaint in federal court in San Diego, California, against Bumble Bee, alleging the company was aware of and profited from labor abuses and forced labor that they and other migrant sea workers endured aboard fishing vessels supplying the iconic U.S. tuna brand.

On June 2, the company submitted a motion to the court to dismiss the case on legal grounds in an effort to end it before it reaches trial. In the motion, the company argued the plaintiffs lack standing for their claims, that they failed to state a proper claim under the law in question, and that the court lacks jurisdiction over certain aspects of the case.

“Plaintiffs allege horrible mistreatment at the hands of vessel captains and crew on distant-water fishing vessels owned by two Chinese companies, operating in international waters, that supplied albacore tuna to Bumble Bee Foods, LLC (Bumble Bee),” the company stated in the motion. “Bumble Bee unequivocally condemns forced labor and takes allegations of forced labor in its supply chain seriously. Indeed, when Bumble Bee learned of the allegations in the Complaint, it promptly instructed its suppliers to cease purchasing from the vessels at issue. Plaintiffs nonetheless seek to hold Bumble Bee—a U.S. company—liable under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and state negligence law for allegations of forced labor committed abroad by third parties somewhere in the supply chain. That limitless theory of liability would allow any manufacturer or retailer to be sued based on conduct by independent foreign actors anywhere in a global supply chain. This and other defects in the Complaint necessitate its dismissal.”

Bumble Bee declined Mongabay’s request for comments due to the pending litigation.

The Indonesians launched their historic lawsuit, believed to be the first of its kind against the seafood industry in the U.S., on March 12 under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. The law, first passed by the U.S. Congress in 2000, has been expanded over the years to strengthen efforts against human trafficking and forced labor. In 2008, it was updated to allow survivors to sue individuals or corporations that knowingly benefited from forced labor or related abuses.

“Americans need to know the cruelty and exploitation that is behind the tuna they buy and eat,” Angga, one of the four plaintiffs, told Mongabay in an email sent by their lawyers.

Angga alleged in the complaint that he was promised a job in 2020 on the Lu Rong Yuan Yu 268, a Chinese fishing vessel. But after arriving at the fishing grounds, he was moved to another vessel, the Lu Rong Yuan Yu 878, where he worked until returning home. He said he endured harsh conditions and abuse on board, including routine beatings and being stabbed with a needle, while he and other fishers were so underfed they ate bait fish. The ship’s captain denied their repeated requests to go home until a collective work stoppage forced the officers to allow them to leave, according to Angga.

“When I got home, I learned that I hadn’t been paid for the months I worked on the vessel,” he said in the email.

Read the full article at Mongabay

Hawaii Longline Association: Presidential Proclamation Balances Ocean Protection and Sustainable Commercial Tuna Fishing

Reopens US Waters to Highly Monitored US Fishing Vessels 

April 18, 2025 — The following was released by the Hawaii Longline Association:

President Trump issued a proclamation to modify the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument (PIHMNM). The area includes the uninhabited islands and atolls in the central Pacific Ocean under USA jurisdiction named Wake, Palmyra, Johnston, Jarvis, Howland and Baker. The US Exclusive Economic Zone (0-200 nautical miles) around these islands and atolls are subject to federal oversight by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

President Trump’s proclamation modifies the PIHMNM monument boundaries by allowing commercial fishing from 50-200 nautical miles around Johnston and Jarvis Islands. This action supports American tuna fisheries in the Pacific that are sustainable and highly monitored commercial fishing operations. 

“This is recognition that sustainable fisheries and ocean protection can be achieved and balanced within US national waters,” said Hawaii Longline Association (HLA) Executive Director, Eric Kingma. “Previous presidents have mishandled the Antiquities Act to create huge closed areas that banned commercial fishing, with most of these closures occurring in the US Pacific Islands. Of the USA EEZ waters that are closed to commercial fishing over 90% of the area is found in the USA Pacific Islands Region.” 

Relief for U.S. Vessels Competing with Subsidized Foreign Fleets 

Because of these closures, around 85% of the Hawaii longline fleet’s fishing effort occurs in international waters and amongst foreign vessels competing to catch tuna. These foreign fleets are subsidized by their flag countries and are comprised of large-scale freezer vessels that conduct fishing trips lasting 12 months or more – transshipping their catch at sea to carrier vessels. Hawaii longline vessels land only ice-chilled tuna and billfish and make fishing trips lasting 25 days or less. 

“USA fishing vessels need relief from foreign competition. Access to USA EEZ waters around Johnston Island is important for the long-term continuity of the Hawaii longline fleet,” said Sean Martin, HLA President. “In 2023, the United Nations adopted a new convention that provides a framework for high seas marine protected areas. This convention did not exist when the PRI monument was expanded nor when Papahanumokuakea MNM was expanded to the full EEZ. The combination of high seas closures under the UN convention and full closures of USA EEZs waters severely disadvantages US vessels as we’d have nowhere to fish,” Martin continued. 

Globally respected fisheries scientists have found that these closed areas do not have any conservation benefit to highly migratory species or catch rates for the Hawaii longline fleet. 

Sustainable Fishing: Stronger Food Security for Hawaii 

Native Hawaiian longline vessel captain, Kawai Watanabe, said “Fishing is my livelihood and I’m proud to produce fresh ahi for Hawaii and my community. We’re a highly monitored and regulated fishery. We know what we catch and we need to be able to fish in US waters away from large-scale foreign fleets.” 

The Hawaii longline fishery is among the largest food producers in the State of Hawaii. 

Hawaii residents consume seafood at twice the national average. Hawaii residents should support actions that support locally produced seafood — the alternative is foreign imported, low quality ahi that is unregulated and unmonitored, bad for consumers and the environment. 

Background on the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument 

In 2008, President George W. Bush established the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, which encompassed waters from 0-50 nm around each of the islands and atolls and prohibited commercial fishing in those waters. In 2014, President Barack Obama expanded the monument boundaries around Jarvis and Johnston Islands to the full extent of the USA EEZ (0-200 nm), also prohibiting commercial fishing. In 2016, President Obama, using the Antiquities Act expanded Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from 0-50 nm to the full extent of the USA EEZ (0-200 nm), creating the world’s largest marine protected area. Approximately 65% percent of the USA EEZ around the vast Hawaii Archipelago is closed to fishing. In 2020, President Biden initiated a federal action overlay and National Marine Sanctuary over the PRI Monument waters to prohibit commercial fishing in the remaining open areas around Palmyra and Howland/Baker Islands. The action was not completed by the end of President Biden’s term. 

NGOs push ICCAT to continue progress on management procedures, overfishing after recent meeting

December 5, 2024 — The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) made progress on harvest strategies and its management of fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the Atlantic Ocean, while NGOs are pushing for it to continue that progress going forward.

At its recent meeting from 11 to 18 November, ICCAT adopted a new management procedure for Atlantic swordfish and Atlantic skipjack, adding to the commission’s existing strategy for Atlantic bluefin, drawing praise from organizations like The Pew Charitable Trusts and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF).

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

 

They’re digging tiny bones out of tuna heads to help set future quotas

July 31, 2024 — Heidi Nydan revved a jagged, bloody reciprocating saw blade to life on Tuesday morning behind a building on Commercial Street, then sent it slashing down the length of a giant bluefin tuna’s decapitated head.

One lifeless, golf ball-sized fish eye stared up at the gray sky as Nydan, an intern at the University of Maine Pelagic Fisheries Lab, finished her whirring cut. Half the tuna’s head then hit the pavement with a wet thud.

“This is so fun,” Nydan said, her face splattered with flecks of fish spray. “I still can’t believe this is what I do when I come to work.”

Nydan, and a small team of other workers from the Portland-based lab, spent the morning cutting open 30 donated fish heads, then extracting tiny, fingernail-sized bones from within them. The small bits can reveal a lot about each fish and will eventually inform federal and international policymakers who set quotas and other regulations in the future.

But it takes a lot of itty bitty fish bones to do that. Lab interns and scientists sometimes process up to 2,000 bluefin tuna heads in a single fishing season.

Read the full story at the Bangor Daily News

Mercury levels in tuna show little change over five decades, study finds

March 25, 2024 — French researchers have found that mercury levels in tuna have remained relatively unchanged at a relatively high level over the past five decades.

The researchers’ study, published on 21 February and titled “Stable Tuna Mercury Concentrations since 1971 Illustrate Marine Inertia and the Need for Strong Emission Reductions under the Minamata Convention,” revealed mercury levels in the fish remained nearly the same from samples ranging from 1971 to 2022, according to the New York Times.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Seafood Companies, Governments, and NGOs Support ‘Seabird-Safe’ Fishing Toolkit

December 5, 2023 — The following was released by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership:

Action and momentum is building across the Asia-Pacific tuna industry to reduce capture of threatened albatrosses and other seabirds in longline fisheries.

Last week, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) joined more than 80 fishing company representatives and government officials from nine APEC economies in a roundtable to      develop the Seabird-Safe Fishing Toolkit to help solve the problem of seabirds becoming       entangled, hooked and drowned in fishing operations.

The toolkit project is a New Zealand-funded project, with the support of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Oceans and Fisheries Working Group. The project is co-sponsored by Chile, People’s Republic of China, Peru, Chinese Taipei, and the United States. The toolkit will be developed over 2024 and presented to the APEC Oceans and Fisheries Working Group in August 2024.

Mandy Leathers, Senior International Advisor at New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, said the toolkit is a “one-stop shop” that brings together essential information about the ocean areas important to threatened seabirds, the best measures to avoid bycatch of seabirds, and robust monitoring methods.

A growing number of global companies involved in tuna fishing want to address impacts on threatened marine wildlife to meet the demands of their markets. We want to support them as much as we can.

Unlike many global environmental issues, there are effective ways to solve the problem of seabird captures in longline fishing operations. This relies on fisheries having the necessary information, as they have a key part to play,” said Leathers.

Seafood companies Thai Union and Tri Marine, and Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) attended the roundtable and support the toolkit.

Martin Exel, Managing Director of SeaBOS, said science-based solutions like this toolkit, developed and implemented by conservation and science in conjunction with industry, are critical to reducing impacts on endangered species of seabirds, and achieving sustainable seafood production.

“Reducing the impacts of fishing on endangered species of seabirds is something we must all do, and having the options and approaches outlined in this way will speed up the process of restoring seabird population health, while also improving catches and returns for the industry. It’s a win-win for seabirds, the seafood sector, conservation, science, government, and industry,” said Exel.

Thai Union’s Sustainable Fish Sourcing Director, Fong Lee, says the development of the Seabird-Safe Fishing Toolkit marks a pivotal moment in their ongoing efforts to safeguard marine biodiversity.

“At Thai Union, our commitment extends beyond pledges. It’s about tangible actions and continuous improvement. This toolkit is a critical step towards resolving the pressing issue of seabird bycatch in fishing operations. By harnessing best practices, innovative technologies, and collaborative efforts, we aim to significantly reduce the unintended harm to seabirds.

Thai Union has already pledged to only source from vessels that are implementing best practices to protect ocean wildlife from bycatch, including seabirds. Our goal is clear – to ensure that our oceans remain vibrant and teeming with life, for the seabirds and all marine creatures. This is a responsibility we shoulder and a challenge we embrace wholeheartedly,” said Lee.

Conservation and Sustainable Seafood NGOs also have a key role in the development of the toolkit.

Alexia Morgan, Ocean Wildlife Manager at Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), said SFP is engaging with its partner wholesalers and buyers, who want to understand the impacts of their sourcing on the wider ecosystem.

“We have a narrow window of time to stop albatross extinctions. The toolkit will help accelerate progress by supporting these companies in delivering on their existing sustainability policies to protect albatrosses and other seabirds,” said Morgan.

Matt Watson, Senior Fisheries Program Manager for the Asia Pacific at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), said consumer demands are driving a shift in the tuna sector.

“Retailers, brands and restaurants around the world are choosing to source MSC certified tuna and use the MSC blue fish tick label on their products and menus.

“Fisheries need to demonstrate that they are minimising mortality of threatened species through best practice management measures, which now require independent verification. We hope the toolkit will help fishing fleets navigate these challenges and achieve certification,” said Watson.

 

Tuna companies, NGOs call on FAO to better protect the welfare of fishers

September 12, 2022 — Seven members of the seafood industry and seven NGOs are calling upon the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to better protect the fisher’s welfare on wild-caught vessels by improving data collection and analysis of labor-related accidents.

Three major tuna processors, the Bolton Group, Bumble Bee, and Tri-Marine, along with seafood industry groups of Fedespesca, SEA Alliance, and the Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition have signed the call to action, which includes asking for a mechanism to gather better data and reduce fisher morality. The NGOs involved in the campaign are Earthworm, ADM Capital Foundation, ClientEarth, the Fishing Industry Association Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG), Friend of the Sea, FishWise, the Global Seafood Alliance, and the Teng Hoi Conservation Organization.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Tuna companies, NGOs call on FAO to better protect the welfare of fishers

September 9, 2022 — Seven members of the seafood industry and seven NGOs are calling upon the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to better protect the fisher’s welfare on wild-caught vessels by improving data collection and analysis of labor-related accidents.

Three major tuna processors, the Bolton Group, Bumble Bee, and Tri-Marine, along with seafood industry groups of Fedespesca, SEA Alliance, and the Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition have signed the call to action, which includes asking for a mechanism to gather better data and reduce fisher morality. The NGOs involved in the campaign are Earthworm, ADM Capital Foundation, ClientEarth, the Fishing Industry Association Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG), Friend of the Sea, FishWise, the Global Seafood Alliance, and the Teng Hoi Conservation Organization.

Read the full article SeafoodSource

ISSF reports 86.4 percent of tuna catches coming from healthy stocks

September 1, 2022 — The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) released its annual “Status of the Stocks” report in July 2022, finding global tuna catches are increasingly coming from healthy stocks.

Since its last “Status of the Stocks” report in March 2022, the percentage of total commercial tuna catch worldwide harvested from stocks at “healthy” levels of abundance has increased from 80.5 percent to 86.4 percent. ISSF reports this increase is mainly due to the recent change in rating for the Eastern Pacific Ocean skipjack stock.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource