27 Mar 2012

Greenpeace says global demand for sustainable tuna should encourage change

8:08 pm on 27 March 2012

Greenpeace has released a report saying there's increasing global demand for responsibly sourced tuna.

The environmental NGO released the report at the start of the annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, or Tuna Commission, in Guam.

Greenpeace says the 25 member countries need to listen to consumer and industry demand for sustainable tuna.

It also wants a ban on wasteful Fish Aggregating Devices in purse seine fisheries and for the bigeye tuna catch to be cut by half.

Greenpeace's oceans campaigner Sari Tolvanen says the report shows that change is taking place across the global tuna marketplace, thanks to consumers and visionary business leaders.

He says it's clearer than ever that the Tuna Commission must strengthen its existing conservation measures and manage Pacific tuna populations for the benefit of everyone, not just the industrial fishing industry lobbyists.