Australia’s Walker’s Tuna Latest To Sign Transparency Pledge

Australian company Walker’s Tuna announced on May 2, World Tuna Day, that it had signed the Tuna Transparency Pledge, to combat IUU fishing in the tuna industry. The global initiative by the Nature Conservancy aims to achieve 100 percent on-the-water monitoring (via electronic monitoring/or human observers) on all industrial tuna fishing vessels by 2027. By joining the initiative, Walker’s Tuna said on its social media post: “We have had 100 percent independent electronic monitoring on our vessels since 2015—well ahead of the 2027 target. Because protecting our oceans starts with transparency.”

Walker’s Tuna operates five longliners, based in Mooloolaba, Queensland, that target albacore, yellowfin, and bigeye. Researchers from the University of Tasmania recently conducted a study, commissioned by the MSC, to examine the sustainability claims made by canned tuna brand packaging. Walker’s Tuna was one of the seven brands revealed as the most sustainable in Australia. In MarchThai Union and Walmart signed the Transparency Pledge.