Abstract
Tuna is one of the most popular types of seafood. But in today’s market, consumers want more than just good taste; they want to know that the food they eat is sustainably sourced. A major obstacle plaguing the tuna industry and hindering sustainability is bycatch—the incidental catch of non-target species. To begin, this paper will provide an overview of the history and inherent problems of tuna fishing, and the existing public laws and regulations, both at the national and international level, that govern fisheries. Next, this paper will identify private environmental governance initiatives undertaken by the industry to fill the gaps in public law and reduce bycatch. Then, a comparison of the practices of the big three U.S. actors—StarKist Co., Bumble Bee Seafoods, and Chicken of the Sea—against the practices of three brands consistently deemed “sustainable”—Wild Planet, American Tuna, and Whole Foods 365—will reveal that the environmental sustainability of a tuna company is dependent on two factors: fishing method and fishery certification. Ultimately, this paper will argue that a sustainable tuna company is one that sources its products from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and uses pole and line, troll, or handline gear, which result in minimal bycatch.
Recommended Citation
Brianna M. Grimes, The Formula for "Sustainable" Tuna, 42 Pace Env’t L. Rev 222 (2025).
Included in
Energy and Utilities Law Commons, Environmental Law Commons, Natural Resources Law Commons
