Marine Life

Welfare of Tuna in Purse Seine Fisheries

Bluefin, yellowfin, and skipjack tuna are caught in enormous quantities with little consideration of the welfare of these large, fast, and cognitively complex fish.

Key Facts

Pacific bluefin tuna can swim at speeds up to 60 km per hour
They are endothermic, maintaining body temperatures above surrounding water
A single bluefin can be worth over $400,000 at Japanese fish markets
Purse seine nets encircle entire schools trapping hundreds of tonnes
Tuna have well-developed pain systems and stress hormone responses

Welfare Considerations

Tuna in purse seine nets experience acute stress from capture that involves exhaustion, crowding, and temperature shock as they are compressed into smaller volumes. Their endothermic physiology means their body temperatures can rise to dangerous levels. Live tuna stored in aquaculture for fattening experience chronic stress from confinement. The welfare of these remarkable athletes receiving no consideration in commercial fishing represents a significant ethical failure.

What You Can Do

Choose skipjack tuna with pole and line certification when buying canned tuna
Reduce consumption of bluefin tuna given both welfare and sustainability concerns
Support research into humane tuna harvesting and killing methods
Advocate for fish welfare considerations in commercial fisheries regulations