Scotsman Article On Dolphin Safe “Substantially Incorrectâ€ff
14 January 2005
United States Recently atuna.com published the article: "Unpalatable Truth Behind the 'Dolphin Friendly’ Tuna in Our Shopsâ€, which was written by Mr. Charles Clover and published originally in the Scotsman on Jan 3rd 2005. Mr. Mark Palmer of the Earth Island Institute wrote a reaction on this article which you can find here below:
“Unpalatable Truth Behind the 'Dolphin Friendly- Tuna in Our Shops†(Scotsman, Jan. 3, 2005) is substantially incorrect. What is, in fact, regrettable is your readers were misled by this selectivity of reporting.
Author Charles Clover states that canned tuna “may contain endangered Bigeye.†In fact, canned tuna in the UK is virtually all skipjack and yellowfin tuna, both relatively abundant species. Further, bigeye tuna are not endangered and are subject to international regulation. Under the EU/UK labeling regulation, if bigeye tuna were ever used in canned products it would have to be labeled accordingly.
Clover further claims tuna fishing involves an “awesome†bycatch. In fact, a United Nations review of fisheries bycatch lists purse seine tuna fishing as having one of the lowest bycatch rates of any fishery -- far cleaner than shrimp and most other fish species. The “Dolphin Safe†program adhered to by UK tuna importers, is subjected to one of the largest independent environmental review programs in the world. Tuna fishing companies agree to open their factories to outside observation, require release of the few sea turtles inadvertently caught in nets, ban shark finning, and prohibit all chase and netting of dolphins.
A World Wildlife Fund Scotland spokesperson claims that longline tuna hurts sea turtles. True indeed. However, what is conveniently omitted is that canned tuna contains virtually no longline-caught tuna. Canned tuna is caught by use of purse seine nets or by chumming and catching tuna by hook and line. Longline tuna is predominantly sold as fresh or fresh-frozen tuna.
Globally the vast majority of tuna companies, consumers, and environmental organizations have rejected a technique that has been responsible for the largest scale killing of marine mammals in world history -- more than 7 million dolphins have been killed by this dolphin unsafe, and decidedly unfriendly, method. US federal courts have upheld the “Dolphin Safe†standards as the most scientifically acceptable definition.
More than 80 environmental and animal welfare organizations support the international “Dolphin Safe†program, including those most familiar with the tuna fishery. Greenpeace USA, for example, has reversed its opposition to the “Dolphin Safe†program following extensive research that alternative schemes severely harm depleted dolphin stocks in the fishery without addressing other bycatch issues.
The “Dolphin Safe†and “Dolphin Friendly†tuna programs are both truthful and effective. They are responsible for more than a 97% reduction in dolphin mortality in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean tuna fishery alone. Consumers should not be confused by scare-tactics suggesting otherwise.
