BBB’s National Advertising Division Releases Findings on Safe Catch Tuna Claims

This week the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) National Advertising Division (NAD) released their findings on claims being made by Safe Catch, Inc., a manufacturer of pouched and canned tuna products.

Safe Catch calls themselves the “better” tuna option based on their “unique catching, testing, and cooking methods.” The company’s website lists themselves as the “official tuna” of the American Pregnancy Association (APA) and boasts that People magazine has listed them as the “tuna pick for kids.” These claims, among others, were challenged by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI)...

Bluefin Tuna Decreased by 70% for the First Time to Fall Below 100 at Toyosu Market in June

According to the calculation by Jiji Press, the number of fresh tuna delivered in June at the Toyosu Market in Tokyo was 1491, a decrease of 12% from the same month of the previous year. Wild Southern bluefin tuna increased slightly, but bluefin tuna and bigeye tuna decreased. It was even lower than the last year when delivery was depressed due to the influence of the new coronavirus, reported Minato Shimbun.

The total number of bluefin tuna was 80...

Subway CEO John Chidsey Defends Tuna Sandwich, Says Company Stands Behind Product

Subway is standing firmly behind their tuna sandwich following accusations that the sandwich isn’t made with 100% tuna. 

On Tuesday Subway Restaurants CEO John Chidsey joined Fox’s “Mornings With Maria” to defend the brand’s tuna sandwich, telling host Maria Bartiromo that “we 100% stand behind our tuna.”

The tuna drama stems from a January 2021 lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Plaintiffs Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin claimed in the lawsuit that the sandwich chain’s tuna sandwich is...

JAPAN: May Seafood Imports, Exports Up In Value, Down In Volume

According to the May customs statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on June 29, imports of marine products (including non-edibles) have picked up slightly even though they are less than last month. The value increased significantly as unit prices continued to rise. Suisan Keizai reports that due to rising international prices and the Japanese yen depreciation, procurement costs are likely to be high.

Imports in May were 177,551 tons; 120,246.02 million yen ($1,091.94 million), which is a decrease of 2.4% from...

Christopher Lischewski's Appeal Denied; Will Continue to Serve Prison Time for Price-Fixing

A panel of judges denied former Bumble Bee Foods CEO Christopher Lischewski’s appeal that challenged his 40-month prison sentence.

Lischewski was convicted for his role in an antitrust conspiracy to fix the prices of canned tuna in December 2019. In June 2020, Lischewski was sentenced to 40-months in prison and a $100,000 fine for his role in the scandal that lasted from November 2010 until December 2013.

SeafoodNews first reported on Lischewski’s appeal in October 2020...

Subway Releases Statement On Updated Tuna Lawsuit, Comments on New York Times Report

Subway is once again speaking out on the claims circulating regarding their tuna sandwiches.

To quickly backtrack, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California back in January alleging that the sandwich chain’s tuna sandwich is “made with anything but tuna.” The plaintiffs, Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin of Alameda County, updated their lawsuit this month to call Subway tuna’s sustainability claims into question.

“Defendants label and advertise the Products as ‘100% tuna’ and additionally represent that...

JAPAN: May Sales Of Imported Fresh Tuna Down 26.5% to 725; Lowest Record At Toyosu Market

The total number of fresh imported tuna that arrived in May at the Toyosu Market in Tokyo, which Jiji Press compiled, was 725, a decrease of 26.5% from the same month of the previous year. The number of bluefin tuna, southern bluefin tuna, and bigeye tuna decreased across the board to below 1,000 in total, further below the recent year's minimum of 986 in the same month, reported Suisan Keizai.

The total number of bluefin tuna was 147, a decrease of 20.5%...

USCG Halts Use of 'Paper Captains' in WA-based Tuna Operation

A team of law enforcement officials busted an illegal foreign nationals-led tuna-fishing operation out of Washington this week.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries law enforcement teams investigated and ceased the use of illegal foreign nationals on a fleet of commercial tuna fishing vessels that operate out of the state of Washington during the summer months.

Since 2019, Coast Guard personnel, working collaboratively with CBP and NOAA agents, detected eight...

JAPAN: Airborne Seafood Imports in March Up Sharply in Volume and Value With Salmon and Eel

According to the import customs clearance statistics released by the Ministry of Finance in March, the quantity and value of marine products brought in by air cargo recovered sharply. Besides the increase in eels and the recovery of salmon and trout products, luxury seafood such as bluefin tuna and abalone also picked up, analyzed Suisan Keizai.

In March, the actual air transportation results of seafood and prepared fishery products were 4982 tons and 8,411.77 million yen ($77.23 million)...

6 Highlights From the 2019 Fisheries of the United States Report

On Thursday NOAA Fisheries released their 2019 Fisheries of the United States Report, which provides fisheries statistics for the nation, including commercial landings and value. According to the latest figures, in 2019 U.S. commercial fishermen landed 9.3 billion pounds of seafood valued at $5.5 billion. This was on par with 2018, representing a less than 1% decline in volume and 2% decline in value. Find five more highlights from the report below:

Highest Value Species Groups

Of all species caught by U.S. fishermen...

Subway Adds Fresh Tuna Melt to Menu; Launches Deal to Welcome New Item

Sandwich chain Subway introduced Fresh Melts a way to “upgrade” guests' typical footlong orders with a new option featuring extra cheese and grilled bread for just one more buck.

Qsrmagazine noted that the Subway Fresh Melts will deliver triple the amount of cheese on the sandwiches, including the brand's Tuna Melt. The new tuna option will feature 00 percent real wild-caught tuna with mayo, fresh onion and melty provolone cheese.

“Fresh Melts are our latest menu innovation to give guests fresh, smart choices that..."

Japan’s Discharge Announcement Triggers More Ripple Effect in China

Japan’s plan to discharge waste water into the ocean is more than a domestic issue. And it is believed to not only exert great influence on its own seafood industry, but also impact other countries to different extents. For example, China, one of its neighbors, intends to stop its seafood imports and search for other substitutes.

Japan was never a main seafood supplier to Chinam which tends to source seafood from all over the world, said one insider. The country is not even among the top 10 suppliers whose exports are...

Former Bumble Bee VPs Avoid Jail Time for Role in Canned Tuna Price-fixing Scandal

Former Bumble Bee Executives Walter Scott Cameron and Kenneth Worsham were sentenced on April 28 for their role in the canned tuna price-fixing scandal. Both avoided jail time as U.S. District Judge Edward Chen sentenced them to a $25,000 fine, three years of probation and community service time.

Per Law360, the pair of former Bumble Bee Vice Presidents were cooperating witnesses in the case that found Bumble Bee, StarKist and Chicken of the Sea had conspired to illegally raise the price of canned ..

Yanmar Creates Automated Fish Counting System Designed for Tuna Farming

Japan-based industrial supplier Yanmar has developed a new automated fish counting system. The company is now accepting orders within Japan for the system utilizing image recognition to count the number of fish.

The system is designed for tuna farming and should improve the time it takes for aquaculture operators to count fish. Total counts are important for the industry as it helps control production volume and necessary feed volumes.

Yanmar also explained that with fishing vessel required to report their bluefin tuna catches, the aquaculture industry has...

JAPAN: March Imported Fresh Tuna Sales Nose-Dive

The number of imported fresh tuna received at the Toyosu Market in March, which Jiji Press calculated, was 776, a decrease of 29% from the same month of the previous year. Wild Southern bluefin tuna and bigeye tuna have plummeted, but bluefin tuna, the main species, has doubled due to the surge in wild fish from Greek and farmed Mexican bluefin, reported Minato Shimbun. The total number of bluefin tuna was 622, about double from 309 in the same month of the previous year. Wild bluefins from Greece...

Wild Planet Foods Introduces Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salad Bowls

Wild Planet Foods, a seafood canner with a focus on sustainability launched its new line of Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salad Bowls.

The new product line will provide consumers with everything they need to enjoy a tuna salad straight from the bowl. They are aimed at providing a “convenient, satisfying snack or light meal that requires no heating or prep work of any kind.”

The company shared its responsibly sourced seafood, including its wild skipjack. Wild Planet said the tuna is 100% sustainably pole & line caught – no nets are ever used...

Good Catch Debuts ‘OurWay’ Food Van Featuring Plant-based Tuna Amid Subway Controversy 

Plant-based seafood brand Good Catch parked its ‘OurWay’ food vans, featuring a menu of plant-based tuna subs outside of Subway locations in New York City, London and Austin, Texas.

Good Catch’s move to promote its products comes as Subway battles accusations that it is not using 100% tuna in their sandwiches.

On July 13, Subway CEO John Chidsey was interviewed on the Fox Business channel, where he defending the brand’s tuna, saying “we 100% stand behind our tuna...

JAPAN: May Imported Bigeye Price 30% Higher, Exceeding 700 Yen/kg

According to the customs statistics of the Ministry of Finance, the import record of tuna in May was 647 tons, up 23% from the same month of the previous year. Fresh and chilled fish reached 916 million yen ($8.31 million), up 37%. Frozen tuna was 14,555 for a 27% increase, 15,665 million yen ($142.24 million), a 27% increase. Processed tuna was 3329 tons, an 8% decrease, 2,011 million yen ($18.26 million), an 8% decrease. Frozen bigeye tuna in the round...

VIDEO: Red Lobster New CEO; No Changes to Subway Tuna; Norway Exports; Pangasius & Tilapia Analysis

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video co-hosts Lorin Castiglione and Ryan Doyle as they break down the biggest stories of the week, including Red Lobster's new CEO; Subway sticking with its tuna amid a massive menu update; a look at Norway's seafood exports at the half-year mark and an update on the pangasius and tilapia markets.

This episode of the SeafoodNews Weekly Video is brought to you by Urner Barry Consulting. Urner Barry Consulting provides tailored solutions to identify growth opportunities within the fast-paced...

Subway to Make Big Menu Changes but Its Tuna Will Remain the Same

Subway’s menu is set to look very different in the coming days but nothing will change about the brand’s tuna.

Subway has been battling claims over the sustainability of the brand's tuna alongside a recent New York Times report which DNA tested the chain’s tuna. Amid the controversy, Subway has pressed on and will continue to feature its tuna amid the largest menu update in the company’s history.

“While many of Subway’s core protein choices were improved as part of the Eat Fresh Refresh, one ingredient...

Subway Tuna Lawsuit Update: Plaintiffs Say Chain’s Sustainability Claims Are "False and Misleading"

The Subway tuna lawsuit drama continues.

In January a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that the sandwich chain’s tuna sandwich is “made with anything but tuna.” Independent lab tests that were reportedly taken from multiple California Subway locations found that the tuna was a “mixture of concoctions that do not constitute tuna, yet have been blended together by defendants to imitate the appearance of tuna.” The two plaintiffs...

JAPAN: April Imports By Air Improve Notably, Volume Recovered The Level Two Years Ago

According to the April import customs statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, seafood brought in by air freight is recovering rapidly. The signs of improvement have been noticeable since March, but they confirmed it in April and finally approached the same month of 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic, reported Suisan Keizai.

The import by air transportation (marine products and preparations) in April was 5,290 tons and 8,058.61 million yen ($73.53 million), a significant recovery of 51.8% in quantity and 50.2% in value compared to...

Bumble Bee Enters Pair of MSC Longline Fishery Assessments

Bumble Bee Seafood and its parent company FCF Co., LTD. will enter two new Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) longline fishery assessments.

The assessments come following two years of implementation of Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) action plans that were led by Bumble Bee, non-profit organization Ocean Outcomes and FCF jointly. The plans aim to protect tuna stocks, mitigate fishing impact on other species and ensure monitoring and strong management.

Bumble Bee said once the fishery becomes certified, over 250 longline vessels will begin supplying MSC-certified albacore, yellowfin and bigeye tuna...

Toyosu Market April Sales of Fresh Imported Tuna Down 12% 

The delivery of fresh imported tuna at the Toyosu Market in April, compiled by Jiji Press, was 882 fish, a decrease of 12% from the same month of the previous year. The main factor of the decline was that the number of southern bluefin tuna decreased significantly this year in contrast to last year, which did not drop so much even under the influence of the new coronavirus, reported Minato Shimbun. Other bluefin tuna increased both in wild and farmed fish...

Genova Premium Tuna Sells Out of Complimentary Mediterranean-Inspired Meal Kits

Some home chefs were lucky enough to score a complimentary Mediterranean-inspired meal kit from Genova Premium Tuna. 

The company recently partnered with Celebrity Chef Geoffrey Zakarian to offer a premium meal kit that “gives fans the opportunity to take their tastebuds on a tour of the Mediterranean.” The kit included the recipe and pre-portioned ingredients to make Chef Zakarian’s  Genova Premium Tuna Salad with Arugula Pesto & Dates. And home chefs must have been pretty hungry to explore the new recipe...

ISSF Announces New Conservation Measure for Indian Ocean Yellowfin Tuna Ahead of IOTC Meeting

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) announced its latest conservation measure that will require participating companies to reduce the annual sourcing of Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna.

The measure will come into effect if the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) does not take action at its June 2021 annual meeting to effectively implement the IOTC scientific committee's advice on the reduction of yellowfin catch.

ISSF’s Conservation Measure 1.3 IOTC Yellowfin Tuna Rebuilding, was noted in the group’s latest position statement, which can be found here...

Marine Stewardship Council Finds Rapid Growth in Certified Tuna Products

In a May update, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) found a projected 38% growth in the volume of MSC labeled tuna products in 2020-21, reaching 100,000t.

MSC data found that nearly 30% of the global tuna catch is now MSC certified. The jump indicates a strong rise in demand from both foodservice and retail for sustainably sourced tuna and on-product labeling. The MSC noted that Edeka, Netto, Walmart, Bumble Bee, and Lidl were among the global brands that have committed to sourcing MSC certified tuna...

StarKist Achieves Sourcing Goal as 100% of Tuna, Salmon Now Sourced from MSC, FIP Fisheries

Tuna canner StarKist achieved a significant goal as it now sources 100% of its tuna and salmon from sustainable sources.

All tuna and salmon procured by the company from third-party suppliers either meet the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard for sustainable fishing or are working toward certification, including those participating in a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP).

"StarKist is proud to be the industry leader and consumers can be assured that all of our wild-caught tuna and salmon products are responsibly sourced and certified...

ANALYSIS: Strong Demand, Constrained Supply for Frozen Tuna

Frozen tuna imports have increased over the years due in large part to the consistent, strong demand from the foodservice sector. Imports peaked in 2019 registering a record 90 million pounds. Not only was the marketable to absorb this influx of supply, but pricing also remained firm, trending above its 5- year average for frozen steaks.

However, as the COVID-19 virus took hold in 2020, and restaurants across the country closed, importers modified their buying decisions. Frozen tuna imports for the year registered 73.3 million pounds...

Multiple Chicken of the Sea Settlement Proposals on the Table in Tuna Price-fixing Lawsuit

Thai Union’s Chicken of the Sea International (COSI) has proposed a $20 million settlement with another group of plaintiffs, the End Payer Plaintiffs (EPPs), in civil litigation stemming from the canned tuna price-fixing conspiracy involving major tuna brands.

The flurry of settlements continues for COSI as another agreement was put in place with the Commercial Food Preparers (CFPs) track in the class-action settlement.

The settlement focusing on the EPPs track, described as “indirect purchasers...