Princes UK has committed to source and sell 100% sustainable and certified tuna from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fisheries by the end of 2025.
Its published roadmap includes three key milestones, which will see Princes increase MSC-labelled certified tuna products to 25% by the end of 2023, 50% in 2024 and 100% by the end of 2025.
Achieving the 100% milestone represents 75 million cans (11,000 tonnes) of MSC-certified tuna per year under the Princes brand.
While there is a high-cost for MSC-certified tuna at present, this is expected to level with the standard pricing of all tuna products as certified sustainable volumes rise across the UK market.
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“As one of the UK’s largest tuna brands, we are committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks, and recognise the important role we have to play in advocating for continued improvements in fishing practices and positive change,” said group director for seafood at Princes, Neil Bohannon, who described the goal as an “ambitious target”.
MSC certification is the most globally-recognised standard for seafood sustainability and demonstrates that a fishery meets international best practices for sustainable fishing.
George Clark, programme director at the MSC, said: “The MSC has set a target of engaging more than a third of the world’s marine catch in our programme by 2030.
“Based on current figures, this commitment will mean there will be five times more certified sustainable tuna available in the UK, compared to now, in just over three years time.”
This follows the news that last year, Princes also announced it had reached its goal of reducing Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna sourcing by 50%, a year ahead of its 2022 deadline, to support the long-term sustainability of the stock.
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