Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna was on the verge of collapse less than two decades ago but is now considered to be sufficiently recovered and well managed for a small Japanese company to receive accreditation by the Marine Stewardship Council Click here

The assessment process started in 2018 and has been subject to formal objections from The Pew Foundation and WWF. WWFs objections were based around standards used by the label’s assessors, independent of the MSC, to gauge the health of the bluefin population and their assessment of how the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), the fisheries oversight body, currently manages the catch. The objections were reviewed by an independent judge but mostly not upheld.

The assessment process has identified some improvements which the fishery must make as a condition of certification. These conditions must be met within the next five years, including requiring the fishery to work with ICCAT, its member states and other fishing organisations to allow this bluefin tuna stock to recover further.

Charles Clover, Executive Director of Blue Marine Foundation said: “We strongly oppose the certification of the Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna.  Certifying a species that, less than twenty years ago, was pushed to near extinction is unimaginably short-sighted – these powerful predators deserve to be given more time to recover”. Click here to read BLUE position

WWF remain opposed to the certification, believing it will “hinder the full recovery of one of the world’s most valuable fish stocks” and that the required improvements confirms its “concern that the certification is premature and could the long-overdue recovery of the bluefin tuna stock at risk”. Click here to read WWF position

A French tuna fishery is expected to receive the same certification soon. Click here