Marine Life

Tuna Welfare in Purse Seine Fishing

Purse seine fishing for tuna involves mass capture methods that cause significant welfare harm to tuna and bycatch species.

Key Facts

Purse seine nets can encircle hundreds of thousands of tuna in a single set
Fish aggregating devices concentrate non-target species, increasing bycatch
Tuna die by asphyxiation — a prolonged death for large, active fish
Pole-and-line fishing is considered more welfare-positive than purse seine

Welfare Considerations

Tuna are large, fast, highly active fish requiring continuous swimming for respiration. Net capture causes extreme physiological stress. Asphyxiation is a prolonged death for animals relying on high oxygen flow. The bycatch problem in FAD-associated purse seine fisheries causes additional welfare harm to dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and juvenile tuna. Pole-and-line and troll methods cause less harm.

What You Can Do

Choose pole-and-line or troll-caught tuna over purse seine caught
Support MSC-certified tuna from fisheries with bycatch reduction programs
Reduce tuna consumption given welfare and sustainability challenges
Advocate for FAD-free fishing requirements in tuna supply chains