Today, U.S wild-caught Pacific Albacore Tuna stocks are healthy and sustainable. We want to keep it that way.
North Pacific troll and pole Albacore Tuna are certified sustainable, caught one-by-one at the surface with no bycatch.
Ranked a Best Choice by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program. This ranking is the highest global standard.
Certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as caught by sustainable and well-managed methods.
North Pacific Albacore Tuna stocks are among the healthiest and most carefully managed in the world. According to the National Fisheries Institute, and backed up by 3-year stock assessments from the International Science Committee (ISC), these stocks are healthy and well managed. The healthiest and most bountiful stocks of Albacore Tuna are in the Pacific Ocean; three times more Albacore Tuna is sourced from the Pacific than the Atlantic.
ABOUT SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
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Catch method: one-at-a-time using hook and line methods that result in little or no bycatch and virtually no endangered, threatened and protected species impact or other negative oceanic or benthic impacts.
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The fishery targets younger, surface-feeding fish from abundant stocks.
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Robust international stock assessment process every three years indicates that the population is healthy, and overfishing is not occurring.
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Fisheries managed at the international level through WCPFC and IATTC to ensure stock is fully assessed, and at the national level through PFMC and WCPFC to provide access to fish. This is a double check on sustainable fishing practices.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Best Choice listing and Marine Stewardship Council certified fishery for management and sustainability.
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First species of tuna in the Pacific to complete a Management Strategy Evaluation, a key factor in setting harvest control rules and strategy at the international level for all North Pacific Albacore Tuna fisheries.
See how sustainable practices affect today’s stock health.
Pacific Albacore Tuna fishing from the West Coast of the U.S. is managed using a combination of best practices under the MSC certification and national and international fisheries management. North Pacific Albacore Tuna became the first tuna fishery to undergo a Management Strategy Evaluation in the Pacific, and adopt a Harvest Control Strategy at both IATTC and WCPFC in 2023. Not only is our stock not overfished or undergoing overfishing, but if we have a poor stock assessment, there are additional tools for management.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERS INCLUDE:
Many partners work together to keep this fishery sustainable. Work with WFOA and AAFA aids their MSC certification. Research from ARF is included in the annual State of the California Current report by NOAA Fisheries. ARF members serve on a number of committees for the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
