Today the French Polynesia albacore and yellowfin longline fishery is granted certification to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Standard for Sustainable Fishing. The certification was confirmed by third party certifier, ME Certification.
This is the first fishery in French Polynesia to achieve MSC certification for both yellowfin and albacore tuna, reinforcing the strong management and environmental practices of the fishery. Approximately 80% of the tuna caught in this fishery is used domestically while 20% is exported, mainly to the USA.
“We chose to pursue MSC certification as it was the best label that met our aspirations for sustainable fishing. Our fishery has embodied sustainability for many years and to have this recognized by MSC certification reinforces our commitment to sustainability for future generations,” notes Mr Teva ROHFRITSCH, Vice President of the government of French Polynesia and Minister in charge of Blue economy.
The certification of the French Polynesia albacore and yellowfin longline fishery brings the total number of MSC certified tuna fisheries to 18 across the globe. Globally, MSC certified catch comprises 12% of global wild marine harvest.
“French Polynesia is world renowned for its beautiful beaches and delicious seafood, it’s terrific to see the fishery making a commitment to preserving the longevity of this vital resource through MSC certification. The MSC certification reflects the country’s leadership in protecting natural resources for future generations. Consumers can soon look for the blue MSC ecolabel on tuna from this fishery and know it comes from a sustainable source.” says Anne Gabriel, MSC Oceania Program Director.
“There is simply no other way to operate in the future, sustainability is the key, we are proud to be formally recognised with MSC certification as part of the top performing world fisheries,” states the Vice President.
MSC is acknowledged as the world’s most rigorous and credible assessment of wild fishing sustainability, the MSC Fishery Standard is founded on three principles: healthy fish stocks, minimizing impact on the wider marine environment, and effective fishery management.
The MSC Chain of Custody standard requires that all certified product caught in certified fisheries can be identified and traced throughout the supply chain. MSC conducts periodic DNA tests to ensure seafood bearing the MSC blue ecolabel of approval can be traced back to a certified fishery.