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Are the tuna fisheries in danger of collapse?

The concern most often heard in the media regarding the depletion of tuna stocks is about Bluefin tuna, which is used in sushi, not canned tuna.

The species of fish used in Canada for canned tuna (skipjack, albacore, yellowfin) are largely abundant and none are in danger of collapse. To ensure these resources remain abundant, we continue to be very engaged with third party experts and global fisheries management organizations through our ISSF commitment. One of the ISSF's main focuses is producing regular reports on the status of tuna stocks worldwide (see the most current here). This helps us assess the success of current strategies and develop new ones to maintain healthy tuna stocks worldwide. Clover Leaf sells canned tuna only from fisheries that are deemed sustainable by the ISSF.

Greenpeace says fishing on FADs is destructive. Why does Clover Leaf fish on FADs?

We source fish caught on FADs because it is an extremely efficient way to fish with a bycatch level that is actually quite low in the oceans we source from (and that the ISSF is working to decrease even further). FADs allow a vessel to take a targeted approach, therefore minimizing the need to chase after free-swimming tuna schools, which can waste time, resources, and fuel. Selling tuna caught on FADs allows us to provide an affordable, abundant source of protein to Canadian families.

Greenpeace says we should stop eating Yellowfin tuna. Why does Clover Leaf sell Yellowfin?

Clover Leaf's policy is that we will cease participation in fisheries where

overfishing is occurring, and
the fishery is overfished, and
management actions are not in place (or in the process of being formulated and adopted) to return the fishery to a sustainable state.

None of the four Yellowfin stocks (East Pacific, West Pacific, Indian, Atlantic oceans) meet these criteria. While these stocks cannot support growth in fishing effort and, in some cases, are showing signs of overfishing, measures are in place to allow rebuilding of the stocks and no further fishing efforts are being added.

Since there are 19 stocks of other tuna species to fish from and each stock has a unique status that is assessed independently, calls for a ban on an entire species have no merit. In some instances, the Yellowfin stocks cannot support additional fishing effort, so we strongly support conservation measures aimed at moving the stock status towards recovery. We have made the conscious choice to source from stocks that may historically have been overfished, but where conservation measures have been put in place that will result in stock recovery. This reflects our belief that greater results are achieved by having a voice in the process. Participation encourages the correct application of science at the management level. Furthermore, by working with a fishery rather than abandoning them, we can provide an incentive for responsible action to be taken.

How does Clover Leaf ensure suppliers comply with laws regarding slavery and human trafficking?

Clover Leaf does not tolerate human trafficking or slavery and remains committed to keeping such practices out of our supply chain.

A number of recent articles disclosed human rights infractions of certain supply chains which is a sad and sobering reminder that human trafficking issues can exist. These investigations have not revealed any connection to tuna fisheries or our supply chain. We conduct business ethically and honestly, and in a manner that respects individuals, their communities and the environment. We expect the same from those with whom we work. Clover Leaf requires that our suppliers operate with similar values and adhere to the requirements within our Supplier Code of Conduct in order to maintain a relationship with us. All factories we work with must adhere to Clover Leaf social standards addressing child and slave labour, safety, wages, discrimination, free choice, regular employment and working hours. As part of the our supplier Code of Conduct, our suppliers certify that materials incorporated into our products comply with the laws regarding slavery and human trafficking of the country or countries in which they are doing business. We ensure that suppliers have received and understand the Code of Conduct and facilities are audited by a third party to ensure their continued compliance.

Our organization has made a $1.0 million commitment over the next ten years to help eliminate global slavery through the Not For Sale organization.

How much bycatch is caught using FADs? What species make up the bycatch? What is Clover Leaf doing to reduce bycatch?

FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices- see definition here) are primarily used in purse seine fishing - the way we fish our Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna. Bycatch in purse seine FAD fisheries - the catch of marine life that fishers did not set out to target - is mainly other small non-targeted tuna. Other species of fish, sharks, and other marine life can also be captured incidentally.

The amount of bycatch in purse seine FAD fisheries can vary widely depending on the region, time of the year, vessel, crew experience, and more. It is true that bycatch levels are higher when fishing on FADs than when fishing FAD-free. However, bycatch levels are still quite low for FAD fishing - less than 4% in three out of four of the world's major oceans. Further, the lowest bycatch rates are in the Western Pacific, where the largest majority of canned tuna is caught.

Purse Seine Bycatch Rates - Non-target species (ISSF, 2011)
School Fishing (FAD-free): Western Pacific 0.3% - Eastern Pacific 0.8% - Indian 0.8% - Atlantic 2.8%FAD Fishing: Western Pacific 1.7% - Eastern Pacific 2.4% - Indian 3.6% - Atlantic 8.9%

To put FAD fishing into perspective, here are some facts:

80-95% of bycatch are species NOT at risk.
The UN has stated that fishing on FADs does NOT threaten the existence of endangered species.
All methods of fishing have bycatch.
In three of the world's four tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), there are mandatory tuna retention policies for purse seiners. This means that when juvenile tuna are captured, they are generally kept and used in tuna processing, so there is no waste.
Sharks and turtles that are captured as bycatch can often be released alive.

To drive home our commitment to reduce our impact on the world's oceans, check out what the ISSF is doing to protect sharks and turtles.

One of the ISSF's largest projects is the Bycatch Project, with a $15 million commitment from members and growing. This project is a globally-coordinated, 3-year, at-sea research project to identify best practices, new techniques and enhanced technologies that will allow fishers to minimize bycatch on FADs. This research is being shared with vessel crewmembers through workshops hosted in communities around the world, fostering a direct dialogue that can have an immediate impact on the practices of fishers who supply the world's processors with tuna. Findings such as non-entangling FADs (reducing the use of netting so that sharks and turtles do not get stuck) are already being implemented by fishermen.

Through the best practices and commitments in the ISSF Make the Commitment plan, the ISSF plans to eliminate half the discarded bycatch in purse seine fisheries by 2014.

What does 'sustainable seafood' mean?

To Clover Leaf, sustainable seafood means:

It comes from a fishery where the number of fish in the fishery and the rate at which fish are being caught are such that future generations will be also able to enjoy seafood from that fishery.
We know where the fish came from, how it was caught, where it was processed and how it got to you.
The seafood was caught legally.
The impact of fishing on related species and ecosystems is low.
The fishery is being managed by a regulatory body whose policies are supported by science and regularly enforced.

Clover Leaf is committed to responsible, sustainable fishing practices and global resource management. Since our primary business is seafood, it is imperative - in fact, it is inherent to our mission - that we adhere to practices and policies ensuring the long-term health of our oceans.

It is our ultimate goal to source all of our seafood products sustainably. We feel that at least 95% of what we sell has already reached this goal, and we continue to work on the remainder. Further, since what we sell is living and changing, we are always working behind-the-scenes to adapt and improve our existing efforts.

What does the “Responsibly Sourced, Line caught” logo on our Albacore (White) Tuna labels symbolize?

All of our albacore are line caught using pole and line, hand line, or long lines with circle hooks and monofilament line, a best practice determined by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), aimed at reducing bycatch. Circle hook helps reduce sea turtles and marine mammals from getting hooked. Monofilament lines have a less chance of entangling marine mammals.

What efforts is Clover Leaf taking towards sustainable seafood?

Our main efforts are with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), sourcing from responsible fisheries, and participating in numerous councils & organizations for fisheries management. ISSF: Clover Leaf is a founding member of this global foundation focused on tuna sustainability (tuna constitutes 55% of Clover Leaf's sales). The foundation is unique in bringing together industry, science, and environmental groups to produce practical, meaningful solutions to sustainability challenges. The ISSF's ultimate goal is to enable MSC certification of all tuna fisheries. To read more click here.Sourcing from Responsible Fisheries: Through our ISSF commitments, we can assure customers that our tuna comes from well-managed stocks. For our salmon, sardines, surimi, and Quahog clams, constituting about 40% of the products we sell by volume, Clover Leaf sources from fisheries that have established themselves as sustainability models.Salmon & Surimi: from Alaskan fisheries, where responsible fisheries management is written into the state's constitution and regulations have been enforced since the 1960s. See more?Sardines: from the North American Atlantic coast, jointly managed by the US and Canada to produce tailored management plans for each stock. See more?Quahog clams: from the US Atlantic coast, using an individual transferable quota (ITQ) system to prevent overfishing and reduce fishing pressure. See more?Participation in Management Councils & Organizations: See our list of memberships here.

What steps is Clover Leaf taking to ensure sustainability in areas other than fishing?

Clover Leaf is making a number of efforts towards sustainable business practices outside of our fisheries. These include:

Reducing packaging on our products so they are more packable, meaning less shipping trucks on the road and less waste overall
Changing packaging to more recyclable materials
Engagement with conservation authorities, including a significant land donation
Setting targets for decreasing our energy use, water use, and waste at our plants

To read more, click here.

Why did you score so low on the Greenpeace canned tuna ranking report? How has Clover Leaf responded?

Although Clover Leaf is disappointed with Greenpeace's ranking of our tuna, we do not agree with the scoring methodology used in their ranking report, which is not made available to the public. Scoring well on the survey involves adapting Greenpeace's specific demands, which are not based in the best available science and do not allow for adaptive management of highly migratory tuna stocks. It is important to note that Clover Leaf bases our tuna sustainability decisions on research by independent, experienced fisheries scientists, while Greenpeace does not produce or financially support virtually any scientific research on tuna.

Click here to view our stance on Greenpeace's tuna demands. Clover Leaf and the ISSF have taken a deliberate stance on things like FADs, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and Yellowfin Tuna based on the best available scientific research. We have also chosen to use our large share in the market to influence fisheries towards sustainable management, rather than abandoning them for poor practices. Abandoning fisheries would simply allow them to continue to sell unsustainable products to cheaper markets, while working with them offers an incentive for improvement.

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