MSC-certified yellowfin tuna first achieves British market

It took 10 years and a lot of work by scientists, environmental groups, fisheries and governments to finally receive yellowfin tuna certified under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard in the UK market. Tuna stocks of Western Central Pacific have been healthy and stable for a long time, thus it was possible to achieve responsible and sustainable fishery of it made by British Waitrose. Supermarket chain Waitrose now the only retailer in the UK currently offering 100% of its own brand tinned tuna with the blue eco-label.

The MSC is an independent non-profit organization which sets a standard for sustainable fishing. MSC Program Director for the UK and Ireland George Clark said that “Waitrose had taken another great stride forward in sustainable seafood sourcing”.

Andy Boulton, the aquaculture and fisheries manager at Waitrose, said: “Sourcing tuna sustainably has always been a challenge”. A 10-year campaign was aimed to qualify tuna’s sustainability in part of the Pacific ocean, and now these iconic species are protected from overfishing for future generations and customers are able to make sustainable choices when they shop.