Sustainably Caught Tuna
- jpgiovannettone
- Nov 10, 2025
- 3 min read
Due to being diagnosed with very low levels of vitamin D, it was recommended that I increase my intake of any of a small selection of vitamin D - rich foods, including tuna, to alleviate this issue. I have always liked tuna, so eating more of it is definitely not a problem for me. The issue is that I was unaware of how sustainable the fishing practices of the various tuna companies are. Hopefully the information below will help shed some light on this concerning topic.
Regardless of the type of tuna you prefer, whether it be albacore (white), skipjack (chunk light), or yellowfin (ahi), all types in many cases involve the use of unsustainable fishing methods that are utilized by poorly-managed tuna companies. Major fishing practices used include the following (click each term for a video demonstrating the selected method and measures that are being taken to reduce the impacts of the fishing method on other ocean wildlife):
longline: uses a long fishing line that can be up to 50 miles long; smaller lines containing hooks dangle from the main fishing line along its length; captures many types of small mammals and sea birds; measures can be taken to increase selectivity
gillnet: non-selective method; consists of a long net that entangles fish as they attempt to swim through; captures whales, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, etc.; measures can be taken to increase selectivity
pole and line: most selective method; uses bait and lures to catch fish one at a time; uses much more fuel for the same quantity of fish; requires more workers and may cause crowded working conditions; can be hard on the fish after being caught on thrown onto the boat
purse seine: non-selective method; captures whales, dolphins, sharks, & sea turtles and juveniles; may or may not use a fish-aggregating device (FAD) that attracts not only tuna but a host of other sea creatures
bottom trawling: non-selective method; captures all types of creatures living on or near the sea floor; can damage sea floor and anything growing on the sea floor
The most efficient methods of those listed above include purse seine and bottom trawling, though these tend to also be the most non-selective. Other non-selective methods such as gillnetting and longlining can be improved in order to make them more selective. The most selective method, and thus the most beneficial to other wildlife and juvenile fish, is the "pole and line" method, though it also creates the most emissions to catch the same quantity of fish due to the inefficiency of the method and can be hard on the fish after being caught and thrown onto the boat.
The sustainability of all fishing methods (including purse seine fisheries) can be improved to some degree. In order to ensure that the tuna you are purchasing is sustainably caught by a well-managed fishery, look for the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) blue fish label on the can or package. Also, look for brands that provide information on the type of fishing performed as well as the type of tuna. Skipjack and albacore tuna tend to be the most sustainable due to their spawning frequency and overall abundance, whereas yellowfin (ahi), bigeye, and bluefin tend to be less sustainable.
Examples of sustainable tuna companies as recommended by Greenpeace (though not necessarily carrying the MSC certification) include Wild Planet, American Tuna, Whole Food 365, and Ocean Naturals. Although Bumble Bee tuna is MSC-certified, no information regarding fish type and fishing method is provided on the can. For more information on the sustainability practices of your favorite tuna company, refer to Greenpeace's Tuna Shopping Guide. For more information on the various types of tuna and the sustainability conditions related to their capture in different parts of the world, refer to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. For more information overall, please refer to the University of Washington's Sustainable Fisheries webpage.
Helpful Hint
Purchase a brand and type of tuna that is certified sustainably caught by the MSC and that provides information on the type of tuna and the fishing method used.
References
Greenpeace. (2022). "2017 Tuna Shopping Guide." URL: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/oceans/tuna-guide/. Last accessed August 29, 2022.
Marine Stewardship Council. (2022). "Tuna." URL: https://www.msc.org/en-us/what-you-can-do/eat-sustainable-seafood/sustainable-species/tuna. Last Accessed August 29, 2022.
Monterey Bay Aquarium. (2022). "Seafood Watch." URL: https://www.seafoodwatch.org/. Last accessed August 29, 2022.