Greenpeace is calling on Woolworths to drop Greenseas canned tuna from its shelves, following the release of its 2017 Tuna Guide today.
The Greenpeace Tuna Guide ranks the major canned tuna brands based on their environmental performance and whether the treatment of their workers respects human rights.
“Greenseas is certainly not living up to its name. It has come in as the stand-out bad performer and we’re calling on Woolworths to drop Greenseas canned tuna from its shelves,” Greenpeace campaigner Andrew Kelly said.
“Greenseas is the only major Australian brand that has reneged on its commitment to stop using Fish Aggregating Devices, or ‘FADs’. FADs attract large numbers of many species of fish, threatened sharks and sea turtles, which are scooped up indiscriminately by large nets.
“Greenseas originally committed to stop using these destructive practices in 2012, but has broken its promise to consumers and since removed the commitment from its website.
“It is also the only brand to have failed to outline to Greenpeace the steps taken to ensure it can trace the tuna in its tins back to the source, a necessary step to ensure tuna is not associated with environmental crimes or human rights abuse.
“Greenpeace’s Tuna Guide this year includes an increased focus on the treatment of workers in the rankings. The International Labour Organisation last month slammed the Thai Government for failing to address forced labour, human trafficking, and murder in the fishing industry.
“Australians eat 50,000 tonnes of tuna every year2 and no one wants to buy tuna that is tied to human rights abuse or causes environmental destruction.
“Running out of tuna wouldn’t just mean we’d lose a convenient, healthy protein from our shelves - it could mean serious problems for the ocean ecosystems tuna are a part of, and for coastal countries, like our Pacific neighbours, it could mean the collapse of local economies.
“Australians can help protect tuna stocks and the health of our oceans by not buying Greenseas, and asking Woolworths to remove it from their shelves. Instead, opt for more responsible brands, such as Fish4Ever and John West,” Mr Kelly said.
- Radio grabs, TV footage of tuna fishing and the tuna guide infographic available here.
- Full guide and information available at www.changeyourtuna.org.au
Contacts: Simon Black 0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org or Peter Stahel (Essential Media) 0408 584 439 / Peter.Stahel@EssentialMedia.com.au