Sustainable Versus Unsustainable Tuna (plus a Recipe)
Posted on | December 6, 2009 | No Comments
Tuna is probably the most sought after fish in the world. A 282-pound bluefin tuna fetched over $100,000 at a Tokyo auction this year. This is troubling because economics and lack of regulation are driving bluefin tuna populations to dangerously low levels. Fortunately, some fisheries for tuna species such as skipjack, albacore, yellowfin, and bigeye use pole-and-line harvest techniques which are sustainable.
300-pound Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin tuna are today’s poster child of unsustainable seafood. A gang of celebrities launched a campaign against Nobu Restaurants and its co-owner Robert DeNiro to demand they stop serving the endangered fish. Last month, many of France’s top chefs took bluefin tuna off their menus. While this action sends an important message to the public, the most critical action for survival the species could take place in next year. Because the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) last month failed to impose strong enough restrictions on bluefin harvest, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at its March 2010 meeting should officially list the species as endangered . This would trigger stronger regulations or a moratorium on harvest to help populations recover.
Skiptuna caught by pole-and-line
In 2007, albacore tuna fisheries out of San Diego, California, became the world’s first tuna fisheries to be certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. Pole-and-line fisheries like these are highly selective reducing or eliminating negative effects on non-target species. Seafood caught by this method is still not as common as fish harvest by more destructive gear like huge non-selective purse seine nets. But, the more we ask for and purchase pole-and-line caught seafood, the more retailers and restaurants will offer it.
Because not all tuna are sustainable, it is important to know from where and how the fish was harvested. Remember to use the valuable tools available to us. And, in case you need incentive to support pole-and-line caught seafood, here is a fantastic versatile recipe for Sustainable Albacore Tuna Cakes.
Tags: albacore > bluefin > bycatch > chef > CITES > endangered > fish stock > fisheries > ICCAT > Marine Stewardship Council > Nobu > ocean > overfished > pole-and-line > purse seine > recipe > restaurant > retailer > seafood > skipjack > sustainable > tuna
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