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A Greenpeace activist cutting the lines on a fish aggregating device. (Photo: Greenpeace/Paul Hilton)
John West to source its tuna FAD-free by 2016
UNITED KINGDOM
Tuesday, July 26, 2011, 23:50 (GMT + 9)
Leading UK canned seafood manufacturer John West has announced that it will source 100 per cent of its UK sales of tuna by pole and line and/or purse seine fish aggregation devices-free (FAD) methods by the end of 2016. The company is the last of the major UK tuna industry players to announce it will switch to greener fishing methods.
The plan was developed with Greenpeace, marine biology scientists and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). It will follow a series of transparent stages:
- John West will source at least 25 per cent of its UK tuna sales from pole and line by the end of 2012.
- It will source at least 35 per cent of its UK tuna sales from pole and line by the end of 2013. For the remainder, it will meanwhile only buy tuna purse seined on FADs where the boats can provide year-on-year best practice qualified audits of by-catch levels, and have agreed to adopt measures to ensure 50 per cent by-catch reduction by 2014.
- It will source at least 50 per cent of its UK tuna sales from pole and line by the end of 2014. For the remainder, John West will temporarily only buy tuna purse seined on FADs where the boats can prove that they have reduced by-catch by 50 per cent against the 2011 baseline.
- It will encourage and support all purse seine “FAD-Free” initiatives. It will source 100 per cent of its UK tuna sales from properly audited pole and line and/or FAD-free purse seine by the end of 2016.
- It will keep engaging with Greenpeace, scientists and ISSF throughout.
- It will not source from the Pacific Commons Marine Reserves.
Starting in September, John West will roll out a new range of pole and line sourced tuna products.
“We know we have a long way to go to meet these challenging targets, but we are committed to continuing to place sustainable fishing practices at the heart of our business,” said Managing Director Paul Reenan.
Greenpeace UK commended John West for its efforts.
“The rapid launch of a new John West pole and line tuna range sets the bar for the rest of the UK's supermarkets and tuna brands who have newly committed to deliver sustainable tuna,” said Greenpeace UK Executive Director John Sauven.
“This move is hugely important beyond the UK too, because it means that changes will have to happen at sea. We should now start to see a real shift towards greener tinned tuna around the world in the very near future,” added Sauven.
John West has also announced the launch of a range of salmon, mackerel and sardines to carry the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) logo.
The shift follows a campaign by Greenpeace UK now rolling out internationally focusing on more tinned tuna brands. New campaigns have launched in Canada and New Zealand, targeting brands Clover Leaf and Sealord, with further expansion planned for 2011.
Related articles:
- Greenpeace releases third supermarket ranking report
- Supermarket chain to stop selling FAD-caught tuna
- Princes to only source sustainable tuna by 2014
By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media
Photo Courtesy of FIS Member  Greenpeace International - The Netherlands | Headquarters
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