World's First Sustainable Tuna Fishery Certified
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA 
on 09.10.07
Photo credit: parkerman
The San Diego, Calif.-based American Albacore Fishing Association (AAFA) is the first sustainable tuna fishery to be officially certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, an independent non-profit organization that promotes environmental responsibility in an industry plagued by overfishing and accidental bycatch.
Sushi and sashimi lovers take note: Overfishing has caused a dramatic decline in the bluefish tuna population, with the species at risk for extinction in some areas, according to a series of studies by the Census of Marine Life and other researchers.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) sponsored the assessment of the fishery. “If we want our grandchildren to have tuna on their dinner plates and in the sea, sustainable tuna fishing practices must be adopted,” said Meredith Lopuch, Community Fisheries Program Director with WWF in the United States. Customers will be able to buy MSC-certified tuna in stores nationwide later this year. ::Mongabay
See also: ::Wal-Mart to Sell "Sustainable Shrimp" and ::The 10 Solutions to Save the Oceans
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I will stand corrected if I am off in this assertion but it is my recollection that the large tuna species migrate over vast distances, crossing back and forth the major oceans. Therefore, any discussion of "locally sustainable" is pretty specious if I am right in this. Anyone know?
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The certification is specifically for fishing methods and an avoidance of overfishing and bycatch.
So this is not really a sustainable fishery? Just one that is less harmful than others?
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Not overfishing, throwing back young or gravid fish, eliminating bycatch _are_ sustainable.
I was checking out the first sustainable Tuna fishery. Very cool.
Check out greenumbrellaeugene.com it's new!
The green umbrella is a simply way to identify people and businesess that "get it".
Find where to buy sustainable seafood with the MSC eco-label at http://eng.msc.org/html/content_531.htm.