Tri Marine’s multi-gear tuna fishery achieves MSC first

Longline-caught albacore and yellowfin tuna from the Solomon Islands has achieved Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, thanks in part to a coordinated effort led by global tuna company Tri Marine to improve the sustainability of the fishery.  

This latest certification is in addition to two other certifications Tri Marine holds for pole-and-line and purse-seine skipjack and yellowfin in the region. The certificate marks the first example in a tuna fishery of all three major gear types being certified in the same fishing grounds.

Prior to the certification of the longline fishery, Tri Marine and National Fisheries Developments (NFD), Ltd., Tri Marine’s fishing company in the Solomon Islands, conducted an MSC pre-assessment in 2014. The pre-assessment was followed up by a fisheries improvement project (FIP) in 2015. The full MSC assessment of the longline fishery began in 2018.

“This is a significant achievement and the result of working closely with our colleagues in the Solomon Islands. Each catch method has unique attributes and challenges, but all have been certified sustainable thanks in large part to the fisheries management professionals at the Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources,” Tri Marine Group Director of Sustainability Matt Owens said.

Tuna from these MSC certified fisheries in the Solomon Islands will be processed at SolTuna, NFD’s sister company in Noro, Western Province. SolTuna holds an MSC Chain of Custody certificate and produces loins and finished products for export.

“Tri Marine and NFD demonstrate distinction and commitment in achieving certification for pole and line, purse seine, and now longline fisheries in the Solomon Islands,” Marine Stewardship Council Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager Bill Holden said. “This is a significant accomplishment which requires investment in science, management, and supply chains. It will contribute to the preservation of our oceans and precious tuna stocks.”

Along with the three MSC fishery certifications Tri Marine now holds, it is also engaged in Indonesia’s first purse-seine tuna FIP and is a member of Indonesia’s pole-and-line and handline FIP. It is also a participant in a purse-seine tuna FIP in the Eastern Pacific.

Logo courtesy of Tri Marine