IPNLF, Earthworm Foundation partner up to further “the cause of sustainable tuna fishing” in France

The International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) and the Earthworm Foundation recently formed a partnership for the sake of furthering the sustainable tuna fishing cause in France.

Their new partnership will see the two organizations working together to engage “the French market in creating stronger and more responsible management of tuna stocks globally, promoting sustainable fishing practices, as well as improving working conditions for employees, both at sea and on land,” they said in a press release.

Additionally, the collaboration will also promote the further fortification of The Tuna Protection Alliance (TUPA), an initiative launched by the Earthworm Foundation in 2018 and driven by the canned tuna industry and its stakeholders, including producers, retailers, and fleets.

Both organizations see the partnership as “an important step forward in helping to create a sustainable supply chain in the French tuna fishing sector,” according to the joint press release. Effective for a period of two years, the memorandum of understanding signed by IPNLF and the Earthworm Foundation outlines the commitments the parties have agreed to, including:

• Creating a focused partnership to collaboratively engage in activities and share information that furthers the promotion of sustainable tuna fishing;
• Working collaboratively to improve the traceability and transparency of canned one-by-one tuna products;
• Exchanging knowledge about each other’s projects and activities, as well as exchange the contact information of pole-and-line fisheries that would be applicable for such projects; and
• Working together to improve the knowledge of the sourcing credentials of pole-and-line caught tuna in the French marketplace. 

"We recognize the great work of Earthworm Foundation, as well as the influence the French market has in terms of the future sustainability of tuna fisheries. This collaboration is an exciting opportunity for us to share our knowledge and experience of working with one-by-one tuna fisheries, and to consolidate the efforts of both organisations in working to create a more sustainable and responsible tuna market,” IPNLF Managing Director Martin Purves said.

As an observer of TUPA, IPNLF has worked in similar spaces as its new partner for some time, Earthworm Foundation Member Manager Florie Hovine said.

"We’ve been in touch with IPNLF for a few years now, as it is an observer of the TUPA, and felt it would be great for both our organisations to further our collaboration. We share the same passion for tuna fisheries sustainability, which at its heart is to preserve this resource so that future generations can also benefit from it. We’re delighted with this MoU and can’t wait to start exploring the one-by-one tuna fisheries world in further detail," Hovine said.

The Earthworm Foundation's mission is to "cultivate life in forests, oceans, and communities around the world" and has been working with French retailers such as E.Leclerc, Les Mousquetaires, and Casino “to ensure responsible fishing practices and supply chain management,” it said.

IPNLF also engages several seafood stakeholders in its efforts to highlight the social, economic, and environmental benefits of one-by-one fishing and to support sustainable fisheries.