Can of Approval

Tuna Sustainability Rankings

Environmental Issues – Greenpeace Canada approved several brands of Canadian canned tuna this week that carry out sustainable fishing procedures. This is only the second year the tuna industry was ranked according to sustainability in Canada, and while only two producers were approved last year, six brands passed standards this year.

“We have seen some positive change in tuna markets around the world and now we’re seeing Canadian canned tuna brands step up and commit to sourcing tuna more responsibly” said Sarah King, of Greenpeace Canada.

Last year, Wild Planet Foods and Raincoast Trading Tuna were both approved, and these companies have remained at the top of the list. Also approved this year were Gold Seal, Ocean’s, Safeway, and Sobey’s Our Compliments brands. See Greenpeace Canada’s full rankings list below.

The tuna companies were ranked according to several factors including:

• Having a sustainability policy.
• Avoiding using tuna from threatened stocks and those caught using “destructive” fishing methods.
• Being able to trace the tuna they use to its source.
• Promoting marine reserves and domestic, coastal fisheries.
• Using comprehensive and clear labeling.

Sadly, many brands that ranked at the bottom of the list still use practices such as “purse seine,” which involves “floating buoys that lure a variety of fish and other wildlife such as sea turtles to a particular site.” The problem with this method of fishing is that it is commonly combined with the use of Fish Aggregation Devices (FAD) which not only lure the target fish to the site, but also lure “non-target” species that “can’t take the fishing pressure on their populations.”

Greenpeace Canada’s 2012 canned tuna rankings

Grades are indicated in per cent and last year’s ranking for the brand is in brackets.

1. Raincoast Trading 92% (2nd)
2. Wild Planet 82% (1st)
3. Canadian Fishing Company 56% (8th)
4. Ocean Brands 55% (3rd)
5. Safeway 54% (10th)
6. Sobeys 53% (5th)
7. Loblaw 49% (6th)
8. Bolton 49% (12th)
9. Clover Leaf 48% (11th)
10. Overwaitea Food Group 46% (9th)
11. Metro 45% (4th)
12. Walmart 42% (7th)
13. Unico 21% (14th)
14. Pastene 4% (13th)

Warning: Video may be NSFW.

Read more at CBC News.