Princes commits to selling 100% MSC certified tuna
The roadmap includes three key milestones, which will see Princes increase MSC labelled tuna products to 25% by the end of 2023, 50% in 2024 and 100% by the end of 2025.
The company said that achieving the 100% milestone would represent 75m cans (11,000 tonnes) of MSC-certified tuna per year under the Princes brand. This means the amount of certified sustainable tuna available in the UK will increase by five times, based on current volumes, it said.
Source fisheries include newly MSC certified fleets, in addition to the group’s existing MSC certified suppliers. Princes has been supporting Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) for over five years, with many of these now maturing and meeting MSC standards.
Certified
To become MSC certified, fisheries are assessed by independent certification bodies in compliance with MSC Fisheries Standard requirements across three key principles: only fishing healthy stocks; good management so stocks can be fished for the long-term; and minimising the impacts on other species and the wider ecosystem.
Princes said that while there is a premium for MSC-certified tuna at present, this is expected to level with the standard pricing of all tuna products in time, as certified sustainable volumes rise and become the norm across the UK market.
“As one of the UK’s largest tuna brands, we are committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks and recognise the important role we have to play in advocating for continued improvements in fishing practices and positive change,” said Neil Bohannon, group director for Seafood at Princes.
Longstanding ambition
“That is why we committed to only purchasing tuna from fisheries that are MSC certified, engaged in an FIP working towards MSC certification, or from verified and well managed FAD Free or Pole and Line sources – achieving this longstanding ambition in 2021 – and now we’re going a step further.”
George Clark, programme director, UK & Ireland at the MSC, said: “The MSC has set a target of engaging more than a third of the world’s marine catch in our programme by 2030. This ambitious but necessary target can only be achieved with the support of a global network of committed partners, who can help drive the sustainable seafood movement forward and deliver real, positive impacts and change on the water.”
Last year, Princes also announced it had reached its goal of reducing Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna sourcing by 50% on 2017 levels, a year ahead of its 2022 deadline, to support the long-term sustainability of the stock.
