01

Selective harvesting

From our 100% pole & line caught tuna to only targeting select species, our process is built around one heartfelt intention—to stop wrongful fishing practices. We must take steps to eliminate bycatch (species unintentionally caught in the process of fishing a targeted catch and the subsequent killing and discarding of non-targeted marine life) and utilize methods that protect juvenile fish so they can grow and reproduce. Sustainability begins and ends with selectivity, diligence and care.

02

Eating lower on the food chain

Our oceans embody a myriad of amazing species. As the original sustainable seafood company, we hope to positively impact wild fisheries by educating consumers about the importance of eating lower on the food chain. Species like sardines, mackerel and anchovies are simply more abundant. When you choose to eat smaller and more plentiful fish, you reinvigorate our oceans by consuming what they naturally supply. Along with tuna, be sure to add in these surprising superfoods to your diet for a healthy dose of EPA and DHA Omega-3s, proteins and amino acids.

03

We choose to source responsibly

Let’s not forget what’s on the line. The future of our oceans relies on how we’re fishing. That’s why we only partner with small-scale fisheries and community fishermen who share our mission—protecting our planet’s most beautiful resource. Eco-friendly fishing practices aren’t the least expensive, the easiest or the most efficient. Yet, they are the most sustainable and bring the most economic benefit to coastal communities around the world.

04

The Monterey Bay Aquarium SeafoodWatch® program

Established by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, this program ranks seafood based on sustainability standards, which guides our choices for sourcing our products. GREEN signals that a certain species is the most sustainable choice. YELLOW indicates a fish is a good alternative, while RED is a species to avoid. The majority of our products are rated GREEN, while a few may rank YELLOW where GREEN options aren’t available. We never source species with a RED listing. With guidance, you can make responsible seafood choices to align with your desire to shop sustainably.

01: Best practice

Pole & Line

Practiced for centuries, pole & line fishing catches tuna from a bait boat. Live sardines and anchovies are thrown overboard attracting schools of tuna creating a feeding frenzy. Using a pole & line, fishermen catch and haul younger, migratory tuna onto the boat one-by-one.

02: Best practice

Trolling

This sustainable fishing method involves towing artificial lures (also known as jigs) behind a slow-moving boat. When fishing for tuna, vessels rig their boats with approximately 10 to 20 fishing lines. Each is attached with a barbless jig that appeals to the targeted species: swimming albacore.

03: Wrongful practice

Purse Seines with the use of FADs

FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices) are radio-beaconed floating devices that attract all types of fish beyond a targeted species. Small fish and tiny tuna aggregate to the cover of the FAD. These smaller fish then attract larger fish, which lures in even more species like sharks and turtles. All are ultimately caught and discarded. Catching juvenile tuna results in lost food supply, while bycatch mortality disrupts the ocean’s natural balance and deprives local communities of their food security.

04: Wrongful practice

Long-Line Fishing

The most common method used to catch albacore worldwide, long-line fishing uses long lines that attract a variety of ocean species beyond tuna. Endangered sea turtles, sharks and other fish also bite the bait creating wasteful bycatch mortality and an unbalanced ocean ecosystem.