By the end of 2013, Morrisons will only sell tuna which are sustainably caught. (Photo: Morrisons)

Morrisons switches to sustainably caught tuna

Morrisons this week announced a comprehensive change to its sourcing policy for its own-brand canned tuna. It will make sure the fish is caught using the pole and line method or is sourced in ways excluding fish aggregating devices (FADs) by the end of 2013.

The policy change includes any tuna used as an ingredient in Morrisons products, such as sandwiches and in-store prepared products.

Further, the supermarket chain will assist customers with their tuna-purchasing decisions by making its labels more comprehensive; they will now note the catch method and origin of the tuna.

Morrisons initiated a plan to change its sourcing policy a while ago and has been working with suppliers and appealing to industry bodies and NGO’s for advice.

“At Morrisons, we only make promises that we can keep and that is why we are giving this commitment to source sustainably-caught tuna today,” said Martyn Jones, group director of Corporate Services for Morrisons. “Our customers want their tuna to be caught responsibly and we now believe we have the supply chain in place to ensure we can meet our customers’ aspirations.”

Martyn Jones, group director of Corporate Services for Morrisons. (Photo: Morrisons)

Similar commitments have recently been launched by global supermarket leaders Tesco and Asda and tuna brand Princes, but Morrisons will have its plans implemented by the end of 2013 - a year before Asda and Princes. 

At this point, more than 70 per cent of the major brands of canned tuna in the UK have switched or are transitioning toward sustainable fishing methods.

"The UK is the second-biggest tinned tuna industry after the US - changing that supply is incredible after a couple of months. It will have a knock-on effect," said John Sauven, the executive director of Greenpeace, reports The Independent.

Morrison’s development leaves John West as the last major UK tuna supplier that still has not changed its tuna policy to make it more sustainable. 

“They are the single biggest brand name in the UK, yet are still holding out and onto wasteful purse-seining with FADs as the methods used to catch their tuna,” Greenpeace remarked. 

Morrisons’ move has been attributed to letters from customers and reputation-soiling headlines regarding the company’s use of destructively caught tuna.

Already, Morrisons labels its canned salmon, mackerel and albacore tuna as sourced from fisheries accredited by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Related articles:

- Princes to only source sustainable tuna by 2014 
- Greenpeace ranks tinned tuna brands with Princes coming last 

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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