U.S. Rejects Proposal for “Ecosystem-Friendly” Certification System for Tuna

by Campaign for Eco-Safe Tuna
June 18, 2013

Mexico hoped to make big waves last week at the meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in Veracruz, Mexico. The host country submitted a proposal for an ecosystem friendly certification system for tuna caught consistent with the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP) at the annual meeting of the Parties to this important international conservation agreement – which includes the United States.

But, as usual, it was the U.S. who made waves of its own by striking down the proposal and the chance – for now – of a truly verifiable dolphin-safe and ecosystem friendly label for canned tuna products. Mexico’s delegate to the AIDCP made a statement in open session in response to the opposition of the US to the proposal. To read the statement, please click here.

The proposed certification system would have been a welcomed sign for environmentalists and conscientious consumers everywhere. The current “dolphin-safe” tuna certification system used by nations like the United States endangers the marine ecosystem by promoting fishing methods that result in tremendously high levels of bycatch and discards of a wide range of marine life while, at the same time failing completely to verify that no dolphins were harmed in the capture of that tuna.

The United States’ “dolphin safe” label permits, and encourages, fishing methods such as on fish aggregating devices (FADs) which produce thousands of tons of bycatch of a vast array of marine species that include sharks, turtles, juvenile tunas and sea birds. But due to the inelasticity of the market for canned tuna, the United States is increasingly unwilling to make any changes to its own certification process that might rock the boat. For environmentally-conscious consumers, that means hardly any access to truly verifiable “dolphin-safe” tuna.

Groups like Greenpeace have staged massive protests against tuna companies all over the world because of their reliance on FADs and U.S. certification systems. But while it’s one thing to convince a single company to adopt more sustainable practices, it’s quite another – and the goal of the Campaign for Eco-Safe Tuna – to make sustainability the norm.

The proposed “Ecosystem Friendly” certification system and label would have set new eco-safe standards for the eastern Pacific Ocean, and a model for other fisheries to meet that would include:

• Tuna would not be certified unless the IATTC has a resolution in force, based on a scientific recommendation, for the conservation and management of yellowfin and bigeye tunas.
• Only tuna documented by the robust AIDCP tracking and verification system, which already is in place, would be eligible for the certification.
• Only tuna caught by vessels with an observer on board would be eligible for the certification.
• Tuna would be certified only if it complied with the criterion that it was not caught in contravention of an IATTC resolution on the conservation of yellowfin and bigeye tunas.
• The fishing captain aboard the vessel must be included in the AIDCP list of qualified captains, which requires he is fully trained on the procedures for the safety of dolphins and that he is in full compliance with all requirements under the Agreement.

With its introduction of an inclusively eco-safe certification system, Mexico has shown its commitment to reaching global sustainability. Now it is up to the United States and rest of the AIDCP and IATTC members to step up and follow suit.