Waitrose & Partners has announced that it is 10 years since the retailer pledged to offer sustainably caught tuna for its private-label products.
Waitrose also claimed that it is the only retailer in the UK to exclusively source canned tuna from MSC certified pole and line methods.
In 2009, the retailer had pledged to sell only pole and line caught tuna in a bid to protect marine biodiversity.
'Selective Fishing'
Melissa Tillotson, aquaculture and fisheries manager at Waitrose & Partners, explained, "Hooking individual tuna one by one, such as through pole and line or troll caught methods, is a highly selective way to fish, helping to minimise the risk of catching other species, including endangered turtles, dolphins, and sharks.
"Waitrose & Partners has a long history of sourcing responsibly and we are committed to doing our part to preserve the biodiversity in our oceans."
According to George Clark of the Marine Stewardship Council, the retailer has made great progress in sourcing seafood sustainable and "is leading by example".
"Tuna is perhaps the biggest challenge and most underrepresented when it comes to having certified seafood options available to UK customers and, as Waitrose has, it is vital that retailers continue to reward tuna fisheries that have demonstrated sustainable practices to ensure tuna fishing progresses towards a fully sustainable basis," he added.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
