Western Pacific Council Rebukes Proposal to Expand Marine National Monument

"Conceptually challenged and factually shallow."

"Death by a thousand cuts."

Those are just two of the comments from Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council advisory bodies regarding the proposed expansion of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, which includes several islands, atolls and reefs. Others said the proposal "lacked engagement with the territories, specifically American Samoa."

The Council considered the proposed expansion, which would extend boundaries around some of the remote areas to 200 nautical miles, at its recent meeting and heard from advisory bodies, the proponents ...

Current Foods Brings Plant-Based Sushi-Grade Tuna to Plant Based World Expo

Plant Based World Expo is currently underway at the Javits Center in New York City. And this year Current Foods brought their marinated plant-based, sushi-grade tuna for attendees to sample.

“We all know that plant-based foods are a win-win for both food sustainability and our physical well-being,” said Jacek Prus, CEO and co-founder of Current Foods. “Yet not all plant based foods are equal. It’s crucial that what we are eating is not only pleasing to the palate but is also...

Canned Tuna Price-Fixing Lawsuit Heads to Supreme Court With StarKist Petition

Starkist, one of the major seafood companies involved in a lengthy canned tuna price-fixing lawsuit, has filed a certiorari petition to the U.S. Supreme Court as the firm aims to decertify class certifications approved by an appellate court back in April.

Earlier this year, an appeals court ruled 9-2 that the judge correctly approved the class action, finding that the companies have overcharged all its customers.

“There is no factual dispute that the tuna suppliers engaged in a price-fixing scheme affecting the entire...

Judge Rules That Subway "Fake Tuna" Lawsuit Can Continue

It’s the lawsuit that will never end…

In October 2021 a judge dismissed the “fake tuna” lawsuit against quick-service sandwich chain Subway. But now a federal judge is saying that Subway CAN be sued for allegedly deceiving customers about its tuna products.

The case originally stems from January 2021 when plaintiffs Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California claiming that Subway’s tuna is “made with anything but tuna.” 

Subway quickly responded and shot down the allegations.

Hy-Vee Publicly Discloses its Private Label Tuna Vessels

Retailer Hy-Vee and its distribution subsidiary Distributors of Iowa (PDI), in partnership with FishWise achieved a key milestone by publicly disclosing its full list of vessels supplying its fresh, frozen and canned private label tuna assortments.

The move was described as “groundbreaking” by FishWise and is an important step in Hy-Vee’s renowned Responsible Choice seafood program.

“Tuna supply chains are global and opaque, with tuna fishing vessels operating in remote regions of the ocean where oversight is often lacking,” said Ashley Greenley, Business Engagement Director for FishWise. “Consequently, tuna...

John West Launches On The Go Tuna Pots

UK canned fish brand John West is continuing to expand their convenient, on-the-go options. The company recently announced the launch of their latest product: John West On The Go Tuna Pots.

On The Go Tuna Pots contain 18g of protein and come in a range of flavors and carbohydrate options, like the Mediterranean Tuna Cous Cous Pot - Chili & Garlic, the Indian Tuna Rice Pot - Biryani Curry, the Thai Tuna Noodle Pot - Green Curry, and the Italian Tuna Pasta Pot - Tomato & Herb...

Federal Managers Formalize Gear Change to Reduce Bycatch, Give Sharks a Chance in Hawaii Longline Fishery

Thanks to fishermen and Hawaii fishery managers, oceanic whitetip shark conservation is improving.

An industry-led conservation measure to reduce impacts to sharks is the latest example in a long history of bottom-up federal fishery management through the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, the Council said in press release.

Starting May 31, 2022, the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery that targets bigeye tuna will be prohibited from using wire leaders. Wire leaders reduce a shark’s ability to free itself from ...

These Are The Top 10 Seafood Items Consumed In The U.S. For 2020

Seafood consumption figures are in for 2020, revealing how the pandemic helped - and hurt - the industry.

When the coronavirus began spreading in the U.S. in early 2020, the government took extreme lockdown measures, shutting down all non-essential businesses. While restaurants were allowed to remain open, their dining rooms were closed. This was a major blow to the seafood industry, where fish and shellfish thrived at dine-in. However, retail seafood purchases did increase with many people using the lockdown to learn how to...

MSC Forecasts Record-Breaking Sustainable Tuna Sales

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has forecasted record sales of tuna featuring its blue MSC label, reaching 130,000 metric tons in 2021-22, over double the amount sold five years ago (50,000 MT).

The MSC credited an increase in commitments from seafood companies and retailers including Lidl, Aldi, Edeka, Rio Mare, Followfood, Waitrose, Walmart and John West Australia to source only sustainable tuna. 

Fishing companies are also behind the increased sales, according to the MSC because of their increased investment in sustainable harvesting practices in order to achieve certification...

Dongwon to Host Bluefin Tuna Show in South Korea Car Store

Dongwon Industries will host a dismantling show of a 300kg super-large North Atlantic bluefin tuna at a Hyundai store in South Korea from April 22-26.

The tuna was caught by the company near Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean in November 2021. The average weight of fish is over 200kg, with a maximum weight of 300kg. According to Dongwon, this species is noted as one of the premier options for sashimi because of its thick fat layer and firm flesh to maintain body temperature at...

Fish Imports To Russia Will Decline By At Least 30% This Year  

According to recent statements made by the Russian Pollock Association, fish imports to Russia this year will decline by at least 30%, while there could also be serious problems with the replacement of a number of fish species, such as Atlantic salmon and tuna.

In 2021, Russia imported 579,000 tons of fish products for $2.1 billion. According to analyst forecasts, this year deliveries will decrease to 385,000 tonnes and US$1.5 billion. 

As president of the association...

Global Tuna Alliance Shares Progress Towards 2025 Pledge in First Annual Review

The Global Tuna Alliance (GTA) a group of retailers and tuna supply chain companies said it is well underway to fulfilling its 2025 Pledge Toward Sustainable Tuna (25PST) following its first annual review.

Last year, the Alliance launched its 25PST which committed a range of f signatories across the global tuna supply chain to ensure that the tuna industry meets the highest possible standards of environmental performance and social responsibility within five years. According to the review, the GTA partners have already hit over one-third of...

Former Bumble Bee Foods Owner Back in the Middle of Canned Tuna Price-Fixing Case

Lion Captial, the former private equity owner of Bumble Bee Foods has now been pulled back into the canned tuna price-fixing case after an earlier ruling dismissed the firm from the case.

A March 21 decision by United States District Court Judge Dana M. Sabraw reversed an initial move that dismissed the private equity firm, based in the UK, from paying damages to plaintiffs. According to Sabraw, the plaintiffs provided enough evidence that Lion Capital is on the hook for antitrust claims...

Wild Planet Shares Health, Sustainability Benefits of its Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salad Bowls

Wild Planet Foods is showing off its Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salad Bowls by highlighting its convenience, sustainability and health benefits as Expo West wraps up on March 11.

The company promoted its Wild Tuna Pasta Salad with organic red peppers, tomatoes and green olives; Wild Tuna White Bean Salad with organic chickpeas, carrots, red peppers and green olives; and Wild Tuna, Bean & Corn Salad with organic sweetcorn, red peppers and carrots.

The tuna bowls do not need to be heated up, mixed with other ingredients...

NOAA May Expand Species Included in the Seafood Import Monitoring Program

NOAA Fisheries announced that it submitted a report to Congress on the development of a list of species for consideration under the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP).

SIMP is a screening and deterrent tool to identify illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fish and fish products and misrepresented seafood from entering the U.S. market. The program uses “risk-based criteria to target the species most vulnerable to IUU fishing and seafood fraud.

The report evaluated the inclusion of current species in SIMP and considered whether or...

Japan: December Imported Fresh Tuna Down 81.1% at Toyosu Market

In December 2021, the number of imported fresh tuna in the Toyosu Market in Tokyo, compiled by Jiji Press, dropped by 81.1% from the same month the previous year to 132 from 697. The arrival of bigeye tuna completely diminished, wild southern bluefin tuna disappeared for the second consecutive year, and the number of farmed bluefin tuna from Mexico decreased sharply, reported Suisan Keizai.

The number of bluefin tuna, which was 673 in the same month of the previous year, decreased significantly by 80.4%. The number of farmed fish from...

Former Bumble Bee Exec Thrown Back Into Canned Tuna Price-Fixing Litigation

Christopher Lischewski, the former CEO of Bumble Bee Foods has been placed back into the fold of a civil suit related to the price-fixing scheme involving top tuna companies in the U.S.

On August 8, U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw for the Southern District Court of California granted a motion from the plaintiffs on the case, Associated Wholesale Grocers, its motion to reconsider the case, finding that Lischewski was involved in the price-fixing conspiracy.

“In this case, there is no...

Nichirei Invests In An Insect Food Company TAKEO, Kyokuyo Invested In Microalgae Culture Company

Nichirei announced on July 28 that it had invested in TAKEO based in Tokyo, an insect food startup company, on July 15, according to Minato Shimbun.

Founded in October 2014, TAKEO is said to be a pioneer in the domestic insect food market. Combining the company's know-how with the processing technology that Nichirei has cultivated over many years, they aim to develop insect food and provide services.

Nichirei states that eating insects is "one of the important themes to consider for our company...

Japan’s Fresh Tuna Imports in May Down 48% to 334 Tons, Frozen Down 9% to 13,215 Tons

According to the Ministry of Finance's trade statistics, the import record of tuna in May 2022 was 334 tons of fresh and chilled tuna, down 48% from the same month of 2021, and 518 million yen ($3.76 million), down 42%. Frozen tuna was 13,215 tons, down 9%, 15,195 million yen ($110.54 million), down 3%. Processed tuna products were 3628 tons, up 9%, and 2,625 million yen ($19.09 million), up 31%, reported Suisan Keizai.

Frozen bigeye tuna continues to be overpriced...

Co-op Recalls Tuna Due to Potential Metal Pieces

Co-op in the UK issued a recall on May 31 for their Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil and Tuna Chunks in Springwater because the product may contain pieces of metal.

The Co-op Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil is in 3 x 145g pack size with a best before date of August 31, 2026. The Co-op Tuna Chunks in Springwater is in 3 x 145g pack size with a best before date of August 31, 2024. 

Co-op is warning that...

Dongwon Industries Collaborates With Lotte Mart To Expand Sustainable Seafood Consumption

Dongwon Industries has collaborated with Lotte Mart in an effort to promote the consumption of sustainable seafood. As part of this collaboration, Dongwon is launching their tuna sashimi, which obtained a sustainable fishery certification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

“Based on the philosophy that healthy marine resources should be passed on to future generations, Dongwon Industries became the first domestic fishery company to acquire MSC certification in 2019 and 2020 for tuna fishing and longline fishing, respectively,” the company said in a press release...

Illegal Indian Ocean Tuna Fleet Blacklisted by IOTC After Latest Meeting

A fleet of tuna fishing vessels has been blacklisted in the Indian Ocean by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) following the group’s 26th session meeting in Seychelles.

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) said the fleet had a history of illegal fishing activities in the region and now the fleet will be strictly prohibited from fishing in the Indian Oceans. The fleet was previously blacklisted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in 2021 and dropped by its insurers in March 2022...

Seven Companies from Papua New Guinea and the Philippines Join Global Tuna Alliance

The Global Tuna Alliance (GTA) announced that seven additional companies from Papa New Guinea and the Philippines have pledged their support.

The GTA said the addition of Frabelle, RD processing PNG, South Seas Tuna Canning SSTC, Nambawan, International Food Corporation (IFC), Philbest and Majestic Seafoods shows tuna Regional Fishery Management Organizations (tRFMOs) their slow progress is leading to more unity across the marketplace.

The seven new GTA members from the Fishing Industry Association Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG) have a processing capacity of 980mt of...

Russia Considering Taking Measures for Prevention of Fish and Seafood Shortage in Domestic Market

Russia is considering taking measures for the prevention of fish and seafood shortages in the domestic market, which could be the result of unprecedented sanctions, imposed on the country.

According to recent statements of Alexey Buglak, head of the Russian Pollock Association, which were made in an interview with the local RBC business paper, the deliveries of certain fish and seafood species to the domestic market, such as shrimp, Atlantic herring and mackerel can be partially replaced by domestic products, as Russian fishermen produce them...

Canada’s Ocean Brands Skipjack Tuna Now 100% MSC Certified

Ocean Brands GP, a canned seafood supplier announced that its Ocean’s brand Skipjack Tuna is now 100% Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable.

The company said the move solidifies its commitment to protecting and preserving the oceans for the future. Ocean Brands sells canned seafood through the Ocean's, Gold Seal, and Millionnaires brands.

Back in 2021, the company notably increased its sourcing of MSC-certified seafood for its Ocean’s portfolio from 11% to 40%. With the Skipjack Tuna now MSC certified, the company once again boosted the percentage to 70%...

Japan: February Fresh Imported Tuna Sales at Toyosu Market Plummeted by 78%

Tokyo's Toyosu Market's imported fresh tuna sales in February, compiled by Jiji Press, was 106 fish, a decrease of about 78% from the same month of the previous year. There was no arrival of bigeye tuna, and the number of wild bluefin tuna plummeted to less than one-tenth, reported Suisan Keizai.

The total number of bluefin tuna was 34 (372 in the same month of the previous year), a significant decrease of about 91%. Losing to other country markets such as the United States and China...

Wolfgang Puck Serving Salmon, Tuna at 2022 Oscars Governors Ball

What will the A-listers be eating after the Oscars? Seafood, of course!

The 94th Oscars are taking place on Sunday, March 27, and Chef Wolfgang Puck is returning to create the menu for the official post-Oscars celebration, the Governors Ball. The celebrity chef and Wolfgang Puck Catering will be collaborating on menu items with Bronx-based culinary collective Ghetto Gastro, a company that works to “blend influences from the African diaspora, global South ingredients and hip-hop to create offerings that address race, identity and economic empowerment...

Bumble Bee Seafoods Launches New “Good For You” Campaign

Bumble Bee Seafoods wants consumers to know something about tuna… It’s “Good For You.”

The iconic 120-year-old fishing company announced this week that they’re launching a new advertising campaign to “recruit the next generation of tuna lovers by dispelling category perceptions and inspiring new usage ideas.”

“At Bumble Bee, we firmly believe that everyone deserves to eat well, no matter what,” said Jeanine Lewis Canales. VP and head of Marketing at Bumble bee. “Our research shows that this is often because younger generations don’t view tuna as versatile...

Japan: 2021 Frozen Tuna Imports Up In Fillets Processed in China, Fell In Whole Fish

According to the December 2021 trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on January 28, the import result of frozen tuna for the last year was that whole tuna (gilled and gutted) had a decrease in quantity and a high unit price except for albacore. The unit price of the fillet (including loin) increased despite the quantity increase. Due to the new coronavirus spread, the number of foreign vessels in operation decreased. Because the prospects for bringing in lean meat tuna will continue...

JAPAN: January Fresh Imported Tuna Sales Plunge at Toyosu Market

According to the Jiji Press calculation, the number of imported fresh tuna delivered to the Toyosu market in Tokyo in January was only 43, a sharp decrease to almost one-eighth of the same month last year's 333. Both North America and the Mediterranean halted shipments, and most farmed Mexican bluefins were sold outside the auction market. Bigeye tuna also continued to be sluggish, with less than 100 for the second consecutive year.

The total number of tuna was 31 compared to 296 in the same month...