Safeway supermarket chain went a step further in terms of fisheries sustainability. (Photo: Safeway)

Safeway vows to source sustainable skipjack tuna

Safeway Inc, a recognized leader in embracing sustainable seafood practices, builds on its leadership by announcing that its Safeway brand skipjack (chunk-light) canned tuna will be responsibly caught using free-school purse-seine methods. The company will transition to the purse-seine method by the end of the year.

Free-school tuna is caught by purse-seiners using traditional methods of spotting schools of fish using radar and sonar, while captains employ powerful binoculars to spot birds attracted by schools of tuna.

Joe Ennen, Senior Vice President of Consumer Brands, said the new sourcing policy is an important step in addressing the consumer demand for a more sustainably sourced product without compromising quality.

"We are committed to building a brand portfolio that is innovative and gives consumers what they want. We have always felt that the Safeway brand is the best tasting canned tuna product. Now we're excited to offer that same superior quality from a source that is more sustainable and eco-friendly", Ennen said.

Safeway is implementing these new specifications at a time when the tuna fishing industry is finding better ways to address the significant negative ecosystem impacts associated with purse-seine netted tuna fishing, a method that employs fish aggregating devices (FADs). Safeway's move to eliminate FAD-caught tuna is part of the effort to make its branded tuna across the shelf stable category more responsibly sourced and to also enhance the company's "Dolphin Safe" tuna commitments made years ago to Earth Island Institute, the company said.

Safeway is in the process of instituting additional specifications for responsibly sourced albacore tuna caught on longline vessels with improved fishing techniques.  Safeway brand "responsibly caught" tuna is the first brand in North America to make this important move.

Greenpeace has greeted Safeway's announcement with significant excitement.

According to Casson Trenor, Senior Markets Campaigner, "Safeway has just galvanized its hold on pole position within the US retail industry in regard to sustainable seafood. Safeway's canned skipjack tuna specifications are progressive, comprehensive, and visionary. They address the dangers of fish-aggregating devices."

The specifications will be implemented over the coming year. By establishing this detailed sourcing plan, Safeway will be working with capable suppliers and verification partners who can provide responsibly caught tuna with full supply chain transparency.

"Safeway's new specifications for canned tuna perfectly complement the work we are already doing together on fresh and frozen seafood. Engaging with existing suppliers to drive improvements over time is emphasized", noted Matt Owens, Operations Director at FishWise, a California-based NGO specializing in seafood sustainability.

Safeway's sourcing decision is driven by concerns about over-harvesting of fish and the significant mortality rate of non-target (bycatch) species -- such as sea turtles, sharks, and pelagic fish -- associated with skipjack fishing using FADs.

However, verifying that a tuna source is not using FADs requires new protocols and building partnerships with stakeholders in ocean ecology. In the future, Safeway will conduct in-depth research towards bringing to market economically viable, bio-regionally supported pole & line sourced tuna fish.

editorial@seafood.media
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