Decoding Tuna Sustainability Labels: MSC, Dolphin Safe & More

If you've ever examined a can of tuna closely, you've probably noticed various logos and claims on the packaging: a blue fish symbol, "Dolphin Safe" declarations, mentions of pole-and-line fishing, or references to FAD-free practices. But what do all these certifications actually mean? And more importantly, can you trust them?

Sustainable seafood is no longer a niche concern—it's increasingly important to everyday Australian consumers who want to make responsible choices. This guide breaks down the major sustainability labels and certifications you'll encounter on canned tuna products, helping you understand what each one means and which ones carry the most weight.

Why Sustainability Matters for Tuna

Tuna is one of the world's most commercially important fish species, and global demand continues to grow. Unfortunately, this has led to serious sustainability challenges. Several tuna populations have been overfished, and certain fishing methods cause significant harm to other marine species, including dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and juvenile fish.

The good news is that consumer pressure has driven significant improvements in the tuna industry. Many brands now actively source from sustainable fisheries and participate in certification programs. Your purchasing choices do make a difference—when consumers demand responsibly sourced products, the industry responds.

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Certification

The blue MSC fish tick is perhaps the most widely recognised sustainability certification for seafood. You'll see it on many Australian canned tuna products, including popular brands like John West and Safcol.

What MSC Certification Means

MSC certification indicates that the fish comes from a fishery that has been independently assessed against the MSC Fisheries Standard. This standard evaluates three core principles:

• Sustainable fish stocks: The fishery must operate at a level that allows fish populations to remain healthy and productive.
• Minimising environmental impact: Fishing operations must be managed to maintain the structure, productivity, and diversity of the marine ecosystem.
• Effective management: The fishery must comply with relevant laws and have a management system that responds to changing circumstances.

Criticisms of MSC

While MSC is the gold standard for many, it's not without critics. Some environmental groups argue that MSC has certified fisheries that don't meet its own standards, particularly regarding bycatch (the unintentional capture of non-target species). Others point out that the certification process is expensive, potentially disadvantaging smaller, genuinely sustainable fisheries that can't afford it.

That said, MSC remains the most rigorous and widely recognised seafood certification program globally, and products bearing the blue tick are generally a good choice for environmentally conscious consumers.

Dolphin Safe Certification

The "Dolphin Safe" label addresses a specific historical problem in the tuna industry. In the eastern Pacific Ocean, yellowfin tuna often swim beneath schools of dolphins. For decades, fishing fleets would deliberately encircle dolphins with purse seine nets to catch the tuna below, killing millions of dolphins in the process.

What Dolphin Safe Means

A "Dolphin Safe" label indicates that no dolphins were intentionally chased, encircled, or killed during the fishing process. Most Dolphin Safe certifications are administered by the Earth Island Institute or similar bodies and require:

• No intentional setting of nets on dolphins
• No dolphin mortality or serious injury during fishing
• Observer verification on fishing vessels
• Chain of custody documentation from ocean to can

Limitations of Dolphin Safe

While Dolphin Safe certification is important, it's relatively narrow in scope. It specifically addresses dolphin protection but doesn't necessarily cover other bycatch species like sharks, rays, or sea turtles. A product can be Dolphin Safe without being comprehensively sustainable.

Additionally, the Dolphin Safe issue is primarily relevant to yellowfin tuna from the eastern Pacific. Most skipjack tuna (the dominant species in Australian canned products) comes from the western and central Pacific, where dolphins and tuna don't associate in the same way.

FAD-Free Fishing

FAD stands for Fish Aggregating Device—floating objects that attract fish, making them easier to catch. While FADs increase fishing efficiency, they come with significant environmental concerns.

The Problem with FADs

Fish of all species are naturally attracted to floating objects in the open ocean. When fishing vessels deploy FADs and later encircle them with nets, they catch not just tuna but also juvenile fish, sharks, rays, sea turtles, and other marine life. This bycatch is a major sustainability concern.

What FAD-Free Means

FAD-free tuna is caught using methods that don't rely on FADs. This typically means either free-school purse seining (where boats locate and encircle naturally occurring schools of tuna) or pole-and-line fishing. FAD-free fishing generally results in lower bycatch and catches more mature fish.

Pole and Line Fishing

Pole and line is considered one of the most sustainable commercial tuna fishing methods. It's exactly what it sounds like: individual fishers using poles with baited hooks to catch tuna one at a time.

Why Pole and Line Is Preferred

• Minimal bycatch: Since fish are caught individually, non-target species can be quickly released.
• No ghost fishing: Unlike nets, there's no risk of lost gear continuing to catch fish.
• Higher quality fish: Individual handling often results in better product quality.
• Supports coastal communities: Pole and line fishing is often done by small-scale fisheries, supporting local livelihoods.

Brands like Fish 4 Ever specifically market pole-and-line-caught tuna, and some products from larger brands also use this method. Look for explicit "pole and line" or "pole caught" statements on packaging.

Other Labels You Might See

Friend of the Sea

This is another third-party certification program that evaluates fisheries based on stock status, ecosystem impact, and management practices. It's less rigorous than MSC but still indicates a commitment to sustainability.

ISSF Registered Vessels

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) maintains a registry of fishing vessels that meet certain sustainability standards. While not a consumer-facing certification, some brands reference ISSF compliance as part of their sourcing commitments.

Responsibly Sourced

This term isn't regulated and can mean different things depending on the brand. Some companies use it to indicate genuine sustainability efforts backed by third-party verification; others use it more loosely. When you see "responsibly sourced," look for additional details or certifications to verify the claim.

Making Your Choice

With all these labels and certifications, how should you prioritise when shopping? Here's a practical hierarchy:

1. MSC certified: The gold standard—look for the blue tick
2. Pole and line caught: Lowest environmental impact fishing method
3. FAD-free: Significantly reduces bycatch concerns
4. Dolphin Safe: Important but narrower in scope
5. Species choice: Skipjack is generally more sustainable than yellowfin or albacore

The best products often have multiple certifications—for example, MSC certified, FAD-free, and Dolphin Safe. These represent the most comprehensive commitment to sustainable practices.

Remember, no certification system is perfect, and the absence of a label doesn't necessarily mean a product is unsustainable. However, verified certifications provide the most reliable assurance that a product meets meaningful environmental standards. By choosing certified products when available, you're supporting fisheries that do the right thing and sending a market signal that sustainability matters to consumers.