This week saw a significant milestone for fishing in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. More than 65 years since the formation of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) – established to manage fishing efforts between 21 countries – skipjack and yellowfin tuna purse seine fishing by the major Mexican fishers in this region has been certified as sustainable to the MSC Standard.
A Mexican milestone for tuna
The Northeastern Tropical Pacific fishery's certification is a milestone for the Mexican tuna industry which has spent 30 years investing in research.
Beyond seafood: this sustainable clam fishery is recycling shells
Did you know that it takes about 10 truck-loads of clams to produce one truck-load of clam meat? The shell to meat ratio is pretty high. When you order linguine with white clam sauce, a plate of fresh, chilled oysters, or stuffed clams, the shell is probably included on your plate. Do you ever wonder what happens to those shells? How about when you order clam chowder, fried clam strips, or some other shellfish that comes without the shell. Where did it go?
20 years of the MSC: a view from WWF
Responses from John Tanzer, Practice Leader, Oceans, WWF International to questions from the MSC for its 20th anniversary communications.
Can reduction fisheries be sustainable?
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Assessment Manager, Emily McGregor explains what is required for a reduction fishery to be considered sustainable.
A reduction fishery is one that uses, or ‘reduces’, its catch to produce fishmeal or fish oil rather than for direct human consumption. These fisheries typically target small pelagic (midwater) species like anchovies, herring and capelin. Other species lower down the food chain, like krill are also caught for reduction.
Could genetics help sustain yellowfin tuna?
DNA research is not just for gazing into our own distant past, we can also use genetic maps to track the great-grandmothers of tuna. One of the winners of the 2016 Marine Stewardship Council Scholarship Research Program, Rachel B. Mullins has used her funding to conduct next-generation DNA sequencing of yellowfin tuna.
