NEW GUIDE OUTLINES TUNA WELFARE RECOMMENDATIONS

New Guide Outlines Tuna Welfare Recommendations

Growing momentum from policymakers, industry leaders, and public opinion underscores the urgency of addressing tuna welfare 

Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) has published their first-ever welfare guide specifically targeting tuna. Based on the intersections of welfare, product quality, and food safety, the guide shares distinct, actionable recommendations for companies to consider when incorporating welfare policies for tuna. It also provides examples of companies that are taking initiative in this area already, with an aim to inspire others to meet the same standards and join the growing industry-wide shift toward humane fishing. Because tuna welfare in fisheries has historically been a heavily neglected topic, these policies have the potential to catalyse change in a multi-billion dollar industry.

Growing momentum from policymakers, industry leaders, and public opinion underscores the urgency of addressing tuna welfare. In 2024, a EU Parliament Resolution called for animal welfare guidance in the next Common Fisheries Policy, while key industry actors like Blueyou and the FIA PNG are leading the way, having already adopted tuna welfare policies. With 91% of Europeans supporting fish welfare on par with other farmed animals, tuna welfare policies can help companies improve transparency and meet evolving public demands. Tuna welfare is not just a moral imperative; it’s a strategic priority for sustainable success.

While conversations about aquatic animal welfare are becoming more commonplace in the overall industry, they have not yet been prioritised in the tuna fisheries industry, instead the focus has been more on preserving product quality. Research shows, though, that these issues go hand-in-hand, as product quality is linked to animal welfare during capture, retrieval, handling, and slaughter. It is important for companies to act now in order to stay in line with supply chain policy changes incorporating aquatic animal welfare.

“As a leading international hub for aquatic animal welfare, we are committed to helping businesses transition smoothly toward meaningful aquatic welfare commitments. Tuna plays a crucial role both economically and ecologically, making this sector uniquely positioned to lead the way in responsible practices. This guide is designed to spark important conversations, and we stand ready to collaborate with companies on tailored action plans to advance tuna welfare commitments,” said Christine Xu, Head of Fisheries Welfare at ALI.

About Aquatic Life Institute

Aquatic Life Institute is an international non-profit organization that works on advancing aquatic animal welfare in both aquaculture and wild capture fisheries globally. The organization works with certifiers, non-profits, academic institutions, industry stakeholders, governments, and the public to improve welfare of aquatic animals.

Source Press Release

Images courtesy of ALI