I love the convenience of tuna out of the can.  It’s tasty and versatile so with very little imagination and time, great culinary masterpieces can be created.  The canned tuna has provided sustenance on many busy lunches, late evenings and I’ve even turned to it for dinner parties because really, you just can’t go wrong with the stuff.

The tuna is a big seller.  The global business in tuna is worth $5.5 billion and millions of people rely on the tuna industry for their livelihood.  But should we be concerned as responsible seafood consumers?

Species sustainability

The type of tuna we hear mentioned in the discussion about sustainability is the Blue Fin.  As it is a very expensive product, this type of tuna is not likely to be used for tuna sandwiches.  We are told that Albacore tuna is plentiful at the moment but this one is open to debate – as it depends on where they are caught.  While Skipjack is not under threat at the moment, the common methods used to catch this species are detrimental to other marine life.

Methods of catching tuna

Pole-and-line/trolling is considered the least destructive way to catch tuna.  A simple method, it involves a baited fishing line on a pole.  It has very low by-catch rates.  Unfortunately, only a very small percentage of fish are caught in this manner.  
Long-line fishing is done by releasing long fishing lines strung with shorter lines and baited hooks attached. It is not selective and can result in by-catch.  
Purse seining involves throwing into the water a wide net encircling the catch.  This method results in significant by-catch of other fish, turtles and marine mammals.

Labelling – what exactly is “tuna”?

Too often, we see canned tuna with labels such as “flaked white”, “tuna in brine” or “chunk  light” along with various other non-descript and generic sounding descriptions.  Unless we know what species is in the can and where it was caught, it is difficult to judge.

Labelling on tuna cans is not a reliable indicator of species or of their origin as canned tuna is often a by-product of more than one country.

Health concerns – contamination, especially mercury

Recent study of canned tuna from the top three brands in the US revealed that more than half contained mercury levels above what is considered safe by the EPA.  Similarly, data from the US Geologic Survey (USGS) suggests that the rate of mercury contamination in tuna and other Pacific fish has increased 30 percent in the last twenty years.  75% of mercury contamination in humans occurs as the result of eating fish.

Dolphin-friendly

This classification/labelling has been around with us for a while now BUT it can be confusing – or even deceptive.  The matter is further complicated because there is more than one certification/label that all claim no dolphins were harmed in catching their tuna.  Some of the methods used for catching tuna – labelled “dolphin safe” may be causing harm to dolphins.  According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium page:

“It’s important to note that while the dolphin-safe label has improved the impact of the fishery on dolphins, they’re not completely out of harm’s way.”  
This is why even tuna labelled “dolphin-safe” is a good alternative but not a best choice.”  The best dolphin-safe tuna are those caught using the poll-and-line method.

Also, it’s important to remember that dolphins aren’t the only by-catch in tuna fishing.  A Greenpeace report issued last year stated that: “’Dolphin-friendly’ tuna sitting in your kitchen cupboard is extremely unfriendly to other creatures.”

Certifications

There are many eco-friendly, dolphin-safe and other certifications.  It can all be confusing.  The AAFA (American Albacore Fishing Association) is a non-profit organization representing commercial pole & troll vessels.  In the UK, the it became the first tuna ever to get the Marine Stewardship Council [MSC] certification as sustainable.

Good examples of canned tuna

In my neck of the woods, there is a sustainable tinned seafood company called Raincoast Trading.  Their fish is caught using eco-friendly fishing practices in the Pacific Northwest region and the company claims the catches are in controlled numbers, are monitored and that the company is able to trace the origin of the fish.  Another company, Estevan Tuna Company, based on Vancouver Island, specialises in Albacore Tuna and uses methods that are less destructive to the oceans and are approved by various sustainable seafood certifications.

And yes, the good ones tend to be more expensive than the regular fodder off the supermarket shelves but if we’re going to eat well and take a positive and responsible stance on our seas, it’s a small price to pay.

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