Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Marine Stewardship Council

Sustainable
Tuna Handbook
2022 Update | Global Edition1

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

The MSC Sustainable
Tuna Handbook

Growth of MSC certified tuna
2021 and 2022 saw continued growth in both the number of MSC certified tuna fisheries and the volume of
MSC certified catch. In the year from September 2022, 19 tuna fisheries achieved MSC certification, taking
the total to 91. With this, the volume of MSC certified tuna catch increased 24% from 1,982,000 tonnes in
September 2021 to 2,460,000 tonnes in September 2022. Close to half of the world’s commercial tuna catchis now MSC certified.

The MSC’s Sustainable Tuna Handbook is a comprehensive guide to sourcing sustainable
tuna. Available for free at msc.org/tuna it is packed with explainers, data, case studies
and insights from around the world. It busts the myths, answers the questions anddelivers the knowledge readers need to confidently source and sell sustainable tuna.

This growth was a result of long-term commitmentsby several significant fisheries to achieve MSC
certification, including the Spanish Association of
Large Freezer Tuna Vessels (AGAC) which achieved
MSC certification for tuna catch in all four oceansin July 2022, following more than 10 years of work
to improve its sustainability (page 10). Also in July
2022, TUNACONS’ Eastern Pacific Ocean tropicaltuna fishery became the first Ecuadorian fishery toachieve MSC certification for yellowfin tuna following
a fishery improvement project (FIP) started in 2016.
And in October 2021 the Philippine Tuna Handline
Partnership became the first fishers’ organizationin the Philippines to achieve certification to MSC’s
globally recognised standard for sustainable fishing,following a 10-year FIP supported by WWF.

© istock.com / Aleksander Kamasi

Front cover Tuna noodle salad © David Loftus

This briefing provides an update to key MSC data and insights. It serves to supplement
the still relevant context and case studies presented in the 2021 Handbook. Readers may
also be interested in a new briefing explaining the implications of the new MSC Fisheries
Standard (version 3.0) for tuna fisheries. The new Standard, published in October 2022,
includes significant improvements, in particular the requirements for harvest strategies,
which will impact the certification of tuna fisheries from mid-2023. This briefing is alsoavailable at msc.org/tuna.

2

Helping to incentivise this growth is an increasing
demand from consumers, retailers, seafood brands
and supply chain companies throughout the world,
to supply and source sustainable tuna (page 7).
These commitments and the demand for certified
seafood they create drive improvements in theway tuna fisheries are managed. Many fisheries
implement significant changes to reduce theirenvironmental impacts before entering independent
assessment to the MSC Standard. Improvement
continues once fisheries are certified, as they work
to close the conditions of certification. For example,
with support from the Ocean Stewardship Fund, theMSC certified Echebastar tuna fishery in the Indian
Ocean is carrying out research working with AZTI
(members of the Basque Research and Technology
Alliance), to better understand and mitigate theimpacts of derelict Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs)
on coral reefs and other vulnerable ecosystems.
It has also been working to design and constructbiodegradable FADs.
In the three years to March 2022 MSC certified tuna
fisheries delivered 38 improvements as conditions of

their certification. These included 12 improvements
to reduce impacts on Endangered, Threatened andProtected species and bycatch, 3 improvements
to stock status and harvest strategies and 22
improvements to fisheries management, governanceand policy (page 12).

The challenge of harvest strategies
Progress in sustainable tuna fishing could beundermined however, if international governancein the Western Central Pacific fails to adopt a longterm strategy to ensure the continued health of theworld’s most commercially important tuna stock.
The Western Central Pacific is home to more than half
the world’s skipjack tuna, and 81% of MSC certified
sustainable tuna catches.
Despite the region’s strong track-record insustainable fishing resulting in healthy tuna stocks,
the continued certification of tuna fisheries in theWestern Central Pacific will require the 26 nations
responsible for tuna fishing in the region, to agree
to rules aimed at ensuring stocks never become
overfished. The MSC is urging members of theWestern Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
to support the adoption of these rules, to ensure
the long-term health of this vital tuna stock, at its
upcoming annual meeting in December 2022.
Recognising this challenge, the MSC’s new Fisheries
Standard (version 3.0) includes a new framework
to help incentivise and facilitate the adoption ofstate-of-the-art harvest strategies. In recognition of
the significant increase in expectations of RFMOmanaged fisheries, already certified fisheries will begiven an additional five years in which to meet theserequirements. More detail of these requirements
and how other improvements to the MSC Standard
impact tuna fisheries is available in a new briefing
which can be downloaded from msc.org/tuna.
3

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

msc certified tuna

MSC certified
In assessment
In a FIP

11%
31%
11%

of global tuna catch is MSC certified*of global tuna catch is currently inassessment to the MSC Standard**of global tuna catch is currently in a FIP(basic or comprehensive)***of global tuna catch is neither MSC certified,in assessment or in a FIP© Echebastarfleet Slu

47%* 91 certified tuna fisheries ** 36 tuna fisheries in assessment***Based on all active FIPs solely targeting tuna listed on Fisheryprogress.org, last updated April 2022.
Note, figures are approximate. Data as of September 6, 2022
% is compared with total commercial tuna catch in 2020 as reported by the UN FAO

Volume of tuna in the MSC program and in a FIP

2,380,403 557,110
metric tonnes certified

metric tonnes in assessment

1,558,073
metric tonnes in FIPs

Data as of September 1, 2022. FIP Data based on all active FIPs solely targeting tuna listed on
Fisheryprogress.org, last updated April 2022. Note, figures are approximate.

Growth of tuna catch in the MSC programme (tonnes)

Growth of MSC certified tuna catch by species (tonnes)

3,000,000
2,380,403

2,500,000
1,982,826 1,992,476

2,000,000
1,500,000

2,500,000
2,000,000

1,666,512
1,324,110 1,311,930

1,500,000

1,000,000

1,000,000

500,000
0

3,000,000

500,000

Mar 20 Sep 20 Mar 21 Sep 21 Mar 22 Sep 22
Tuna (yellowfin)
Tuna (skipjack)

Tuna (bluefin)
Tuna (albacore)

Tuna (bigeye)0

Mar 20 Sep 20 Mar 21 Sep 21 Mar 22 Sep 22

Certified
In assessment

Total catch volumes include major market species: albacore, bluefin, yellowfin,
bigeye and skipjack tuna

4

5

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

A growing market for tuna with
the MSC label
Demand, sales and production of certified sustainable tuna continues to grow on a global scale. 2021/22 saw
sales of tuna with the blue MSC label reach 136,000 tonnes, more than double the amount sold five years ago(48,000 tonnes). Retailers have been instrumental in driving growth in MSC certified tuna sales, particularly
for canned tuna, as they seek to meet consumer demand for sustainably sourced seafood.
In May 2021, for example, Lidl Germany began theswitch to using MSC certified skipjack tuna in its
private-label brand, Nixe – the blue MSC label now
appears on Nixe tuna cans across the region. Lidl
Germany is not alone in this commitment. All 10 ofGermany’s top retailers have started to switch theirprivate label tuna cans to MSC certified tuna – upfrom 4 retailers in 2019. As a result, 40% of tuna soldin German retail is now sourced from MSC certified
sustainable fisheries – up from 8% in 2018.
In October 2021, US retailer Walmart began apartnership with The Nature Conservancy and the
Marshall Islands to supply MSC certified canned
skipjack tuna, for its Great Value brand, with profits
being directed back into Pacific Island communities.
In May 2022, in a step towards meeting its
commitment to labelling 100% of its tuna as MSC
certified by 2025, Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket,
introduced three new MSC labelled canned tunaproducts sourced from Papua New Guinea.

Sales of tuna with the blue
MSC label reached 136,000 tonnes,
more than double the amount soldfive years ago
6©Anthony J Rayburn/American Tuna

Tuna brands are also playing a vital role intransforming the tuna industry.

If achieved, this commitment will mean fivetimes more MSC labelled tuna on sale in the UK.
The commitment comes off the back of five years
support for FIPs.
Princes Group is pushing ahead with this commitment
in other European counties too. The Netherlands ison track to be the first nation with 100% MSC labelled
Princes canned tuna in September 2022, and Poland
will follow suit shortly after.
American Tuna was the first company to market
MSC certified tuna in the US, sourced from theAmerican Albacore Fishing Association, which was
the first MSC certified tuna fishery in the world.
The business started in 2007 with just eight pallets
and a single MSC certified tuna product caught
one-by-one in the North Pacific. Today, the company
supplies 33 MSC certified tuna products from several
fisheries to multiple retailers.

Distribution of MSC labelled tuna by
volume sold in 2021/2022 by region*

The Bolton Group, which owns tuna processor
Tri Marine, has launched MSC labelled products
through its brands such as Rio Mare and Saupiquet
9%in Italy, Germany, and France. By 2024 Bolton has
pledged to source 100% of its tuna from MSC certified Asia
fisheries or from those working to meet the MSC
Pacific
Standard through robust FIPs.
In August 2022, Mitsubishi-owned Princes
announced a target for 100% of its UK branded,canned tuna to carry the MSC label by 2025.

6%

Other

13%

Americas72%

Europe& Africa,
MiddleEast andSouth Asia

*Data for financial year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

7

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

MSC Labelled Tuna
Products Globally

In 2022 ...

Volume of MSC labelled tunasold by species
138,692

140,000

110,518

120,000(Germany, Austria, Switzerland)

80,00048,547

72,98653,51548,23420,000Tuna (skipjack)2018/192019/20

Tuna (yellowfin)

Tuna (multiple species )*2020/21 2021/22

Tuna (albacore)

27,350

Pet food

7,996

18,621

23,41314,00014,000Benelux

8,000

12,784
Oceania0

UK & Ireland

4,059

2,353

8

Foodservice

5,756

4,748

221

10,601

11,847

3,900

6,000

4,827

4,000
2,000
0

2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22
Tuna (yellowfin)
Tuna (skipjack)

Tuna (multiple species*)
Tuna (albacore)

2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22

Tuna (yellowfin)
Tuna (skipjack)

Tuna (multiple species*)
Tuna (albacore)

Tuna (bigeye)

Volume MSC labelled tuna sold North & Central Europe (tonnes)(25 countries)

Volume of MSC labelled tuna sold Southern Europe & AMESA(tonnes) (10 countries)

90,00030,00076,35980,00070,00060,00057,48550,00040,00030,00020,00010,00024,86015,13915,00026,2688,857

10,0005,000

2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22
Tuna (multiple species*)
Tuna (albacore)

24,43525,00020,00044,291Tuna (yellowfin)
Tuna (skipjack)Frozen10,922

8,000

6,000
2,000

14,73410,00010,0004,000

14,672

12,00012,0000Chilled17,917
16,000

US & Canada

92,18320,000Volume of MSC labelled tuna sales Asia Pacific (tonnes)

16,0008,551

Retail food to go/
Ready meals

Volume of MSC labelled tuna sold by species in America (tonnes)

9,749

Tuna (bigeye)

MSC labelled tuna by format in tonnes (2021/22)

Preserved

brands sold
MSC labelled
albacore tuna
up from 76
in 2015

brands sold
MSC labelled
yellowfin tuna
up from 1
in 2015

Southern Europe(Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands)

2017/18

122

106

brands sold
MSC labelledskipjack tuna
up from 49
in 2015

18,000(Spain, France, Italy, Portugal)

40,000

0

202

DACH

100,000

60,000Top 6 markets for
MSC labelled tunaproducts (tonnes)
2021/22

Tuna (bigeye)

0

3,387

5,265

2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22

Tuna (yellowfin)
Tuna (skipjack)

Data for financial year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022
Tuna multiple indicates products containing seafood from more than one fishery, and/or tuna species.

Tuna (multiple species*)
Tuna (albacore)

Tuna (bigeye)9Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Case StudY“AGAC’s members are first and foremostinterested in maintaining the health of theresources on which our livelihood depends.
Achieving MSC certification after so muchwork, investment and effort on the part of
all the OPAGAC-AGAC family encourages us
to continue these efforts.”

AGAC Four Oceans Integral Purse Seine
Tropical Tuna Fishery

Gear type: Purse seine | Tonnage: Skipjack: 145,992 | Yellowfin: 47,046 | Bigeye: 2,877
First UoC Certified: 8 December 2021 | Last UoC Certified: 11th of July 2022

AGAC CEO, Julio MorónThe certified catch accounts for 3% of the world’s
total tropical tuna catch and includes 44 purse seine
vessels catching yellowfin tuna in the Eastern andWestern Pacific, and the Atlantic Oceans; skipjack
tuna in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans; andbigeye tuna in the Western Pacific.
AGAC is also the first purse seine fishery using bothfree school and Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) methods
to achieve certification in the Atlantic Ocean.

10 years of improvements
In 2012, AGAC introduced a Code of Good Practice(CGP), with compliance annually verified by the
independent scientific organization AZTI (Membersof the Basque Research and Technology Alliance).
The code addresses impacts on non-target species,
including the adoption of non-entangling FADs. In
2016 AGAC entered a Fisheries Improvement Projectwith the objective of reaching MSC certification.
The independent assessment of fisheries aiming
for certification against the MSC Standard is a longprocess and most fisheries only invest in a full
assessment following a favourable pre-assessment.
Unusually, AGAC opted to submit its entire fishing
operation - covering twelve tropical tuna stocks
around the world - for full assessment, despiteknowing not all would achieve certification. The
process has meant an unparalleled and independent
assessment on the state of sustainability of all
tropical tuna stocks around the world.
10Over 2,000 crew members from the AGAC fleet
contributed ideas on effective solutions tosustainability challenges. Association members
also made a total investment in new technologies,
operations and research of more than €17 million(£14.5 million).

Commitments to go further
In addition to working on improving the sustainabilityof those fishing operations which failed to achievecertification at the full assessment, AGAC has agreed
to deliver a total of 56 binding and non-binding
conditions of improvement that will be implemented
over the coming years, with subsequent positive
impacts on the Ocean.
In the Western Central Pacific Ocean, like for all
certified fisheries in the region, ongoing certification
will require the agreement of an effective harvest
strategy by the WCPFC (page 3).
In the Atlantic Ocean the fishery will need to work
alongside other certified fisheries to implement welldesigned Harvest Control Rules.
There is also a need to enforce the sustainable total
allowable catch (TAC) for yellowfin which has been
adopted by the International Commission for theConservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
In the Indian Ocean, the fishery’s action plan
includes the effective implementation of the Harvest
Control Rule established for skipjack, as well as
many other aspects to better quantify the impactsof drifting FADs on marine ecosystems, among othersuch habitat related issues.
In the Eastern Pacific, the conditions for yellowfin
catches are focused on improving the information
on fishing impacts on Endangered, Threatened
and Protected (ETP) species and the managementof habitats.

© AGAC.fishing

Following two years of assessment by independent
auditors, in 2022 the Spanish tuna association AGAC
(Asociación de Grandes Atuneros Congeladores /Association of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels), became
the first fishery to gain certification to the MSC
Fisheries Standard for sustainability for tropicaltuna catch in all four oceanic regions.

© Neo/MSC

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

11

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

SUMMARY OF CONDITIONS - AugusT 2022
Performance Indicator

AAFA &WFOA

Australian
ETBF

Cook, FSM &RMI

Echebastar

Indonesia
pole-andline

Maldives

N Atl
albacoreartisanal

PNA

SorongSATHOAN

Solomon

Tri Marine
WCPO

Usufuku

Stock status

Stock Status

Stock rebuilding
PCR V1.3
Harvest Strategy
Harvest Control Rules
Information/Monitoring
Assessment of Stock Status
Primary Species Outcome
Primary Species Management

Secondary Species Outcome
Secondary Species Management
Secondary Species Information
Environment

Performance Indicators with Conditions

Primary Species Information

ETP Species Outcome
ETP Species Management
ETP Species Information
Habitats Outcome
Habitats Management
Habitats Information
Ecosystem Outcome
Tuna Pole and line© Nice and Serious / MSC fishing

Ecosystem Management
Ecosystem Information
Legal/ Customary Framework
Consultations, Roles and Resp.

Management

Long Term Objectives
PCR V1.3
Fishery Specific Objectives
Decision Making Processes
Compliance and Enforcement
Monitoring and Management
PCR V1.3

Performance indicators with conditions for fisheries listed in the Sustainable Tuna Handbook 2021
Condition that the fishery is working towards

Conditions for all MSC certified fisheries aredetailed on fisheries.msc.org

Condition which has been addressed by the fishery12

13

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Sustainable Tuna Handbook

As the world’s most recognised seafood labelling and certification program,consumers are positive that the MSC, and the thousands of organisations committed
to using the blue MSC label, are contributing to the health of the world’s oceans.

Consumer Insights
More than 25,000 consumers (20,127 seafood consumers) in 23 countries took
part in the research conducted between January and March 2022.

75%

74%

of MSC-aware consumers
rate the MSC highly forhelping to ensure seafood
availability for future
generations.

of those surveyed said that supermarkets
and brands sustainability claims need to beclearly labelled by an independent
organisation (up from 71% in 2020).

89%

81%

of seafood consumers are worried
about the state of the world’s oceans.

agree that the MSC label
helps to identify
sustainable seafood
quickly and easily.

48%
67%of seafood consumers
believe the seafood
choices they make canhelp make a difference toocean health.

14of consumers recognise
the blue MSC label.

78%

of seafood consumers who
recognise the MSC logo say
they trust the claims of theorganisation – up from 69% in 2018.

73%

of seafood consumers agree that in order tosave the ocean, we have to consume seafood
only from sustainable sources.
Data from: GlobeScan 2022. Consumers surveyed were in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea (new in 2022), Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA and Portugal.

15

Conclusion
The past 18 months, since the publication of
the Sustainable Tuna Handbook 2021, haveseen continued and remarkable growth of MSC
certified tuna across the fishing, supply chain
and market sectors. This growth follows years ofcommitments and improvements by tuna fisheries,
suppliers and brands to change the way we fish
our oceans. Achieving MSC certification is not easy.
As highlighted by the examples in this update,fisheries invest years in research, technology andmanagement systems in order to reach the high barof sustainability demanded of MSC certification.
And they continue to improve once certified.
The ambition of the tuna fishing industry to achieve
global best practice standards of sustainability is
being influenced by multiple factors; Consumers
are increasingly worried about the state of ouroceans which has caused a growth in recognition,and demand for MSC labelled tuna. Retailers andbrands have responded to the demand by increasing
their efforts to stock sustainable products andby favouring suppliers with MSC certification,
further encouraging fisheries to improve. Lastly,
governments, industry associations, andconservation groups are using the MSC Standard as atool to guide tuna fisheries on a road to improvement.
This movement is having tangible benefits on
our oceans and tuna fisheries. Regional Fisheries
Management Organisations for example, areintroducing new requirements for biodegradable,
non-entangling FADs, and fishing operations

For more information visit msc.org/tuna

Designed by Be Curious Limited.
Marine Stewardship Council 2021

are working together to influence change ininternational management.
These changes demonstrate the MSC’s Theory of
Change at work, driving improvements in the healthof the world’s ocean through market demand.
Everyone involved should be incredibly proud of
the achievements to date.
The path to sustainability is not without its
challenges, however. The new MSC Fisheries
Standard has sought to address some of the issues
facing tuna fisheries through improvements, which
will ensure that MSC certified fisheries continue tobe leaders in sustainability. The new Standard will
increase confidence that shark finning does not takeplace in certified fisheries, afford greater protection
to Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP)
species, and require fisheries to better manage theimpacts of FADs.
Agreeing harvest strategies for tuna fisheries,
particularly those in the WCPFC also remains asignificant challenge which threatens to undermine
the efforts of the past 10 years. But there arepositive signs that a harvest strategy for skipjack
can still be achieved in time to avoid the suspensionof MSC certification in the Western Central Pacific.
And with so many highly influential fishing, retailand conservation organisations supporting theongoing verification of sustainable tuna fishing
through MSC certification, there is reason toremain cautiously optimistic for the future.