Pams canned tuna will come from FAD-free fisheries, Foodstuffs announced. (Photo: Greenpeace)
Supermarket chain to stop selling FAD-caught tuna
NEW ZEALAND
Thursday, June 09, 2011, 22:20 (GMT + 9)
New Zealand-based food distributor and retailer Foodstuffs has announced that all standard and flavoured tuna sold under its Pams brand will be fully sourced from fisheries free from fish aggregation devices (FADs) by the end of 2011. As well, the company will be introducing a new pole and line caught canned tuna range under the Pams brand.
The aforementioned products will be labelled clearly to help consumers make educated decisions regarding sustainable seafood choices when buying tuna products, Foodstuffs communicated in a statement.
"For some time now, we have been working towards securing a long term supply of canned tuna which can be sourced sustainably,” said Dave McAteer, general manager of Foodstuffs Own Brands Ltd, one of New Zealand's two biggest supermarket chains.
“It is part of our philosophy to listen to our customers, therefore we have been investigating the ability to provide both FAD-free and pole and line caught canned tuna for our Pams range. We are thrilled to announce that we can now offer these products to our Pams' customers," he continued.
The firm has thus drawn the approval of environmental groups.
“Last month, Greenpeace challenged New Zealand’s five main tuna brands to step up and show leadership in tuna sustainability – Foodstuffs is now the clear leader,” said Greenpeace New Zealand Oceans Campaigner Karli Thomas.
Still, McAteer clarified, two Pams sandwich tuna products will not be classified as FAD-free because some suppliers were unable to verify that the tuna in these products was fully sourced in this manner.
"At Pams we believe in offering sustainable product options to our customers, and we hope Kiwis will continue to buy our tuna products and help us support sustainable fishing methods,” McAteer vowed. “It's a big step and one that we are incredibly proud of," he concluded.
Greenpeace noted that Foodstuffs’ initiative will help protect tuna stocks and other ocean species in the Pacific Ocean from wasteful fishing methods.
“We’re now calling on New Zealand’s other main brands to follow Foodstuffs’ example,” the group stated.
Pams tuna products are available at all New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square stores across NZ.
Related articles:
- Greenpeace and Sealord quarrel over sustainable tuna
- Greenpeace calls for action against canned tuna brands
By Natalia Real
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www.seafood.media
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