Solomon Islands Tuna Gets MSC Certification

The Solomon Islands skipjack and yellowfin tuna fishery has achieved MSC certification. This certification recognizes that skipjack and yellowfin caught by the fishery come from well-managed stocks and that fishing practices meet the MSC’s robust requirements for sustainability.

Tri Marine and its subsidiary National Fisheries Developments (NFD) led the effort to secure MSC certification in the Solomon Islands and will now be able to increase the supply of tuna eligible to be sold with the MSC label.

“This most recent certification provides well-deserved public recognition of the Solomon Islands’ efforts to sustainably manage their purse seine and pole and line tuna fisheries and helps maximize the value of tuna caught and processed in the country.” said Matthew Owens, Tri Marine’s Director of Environmental Policy.

The newly MSC certified fishery operates in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) in the Main Group Archipelago (MGA) and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Solomon Islands. It represents around 25,000-30,000 metric tons of skipjack and yellowfin per year and is unloaded in Solomon Islands where it is processed almost entirely by SolTuna in Noro, Western Province.

SolTuna produces canned tuna, frozen cooked tuna loins, and fish meal and oil.  SolTuna brands make up the vast majority of the canned tuna market in the Solomon Islands and are an important contributor to the country’s food security.  SolTuna also sells tuna products to customers in Europe and the Pacific region, where there is increased demand for MSC labelled tuna.

Locally managed, NFD and SolTuna employ over 2,000 Solomon Islanders and represent one of the country’s largest private sector employers.

“It is very positive to see more tuna fishing fleets in the Western Central Pacific achieving MSC certification,” said Jim Humphreys, Global Fisheries Coordinator at the Marine Stewardship Council. “This achievement demonstrates the investment that these fisheries are making in science, management and supply chains. They meet the world’s most credible standard for sustainable fishing which reflects international best practices.”

Around 842,000 metric tons of tuna caught in 2015 was eligible to be MSC certified – this represents 16 percent of total tuna catches.  Demand for MSC certified tuna is particularly important in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.