Tuna Fisheries and Welfare Impacts

Tuna are highly migratory, large-bodied fish with sophisticated physiology. Commercial fishing methods cause welfare harms including bycatch, prolonged capture stress, and painful handling.

Key Facts

Bluefin tuna can maintain body temperatures above ambient water through endothermy, a rare fish trait
Purse seine fishing often captures large numbers of non-target species including sea turtles and dolphins
Individual tuna in capture situations experience measurable stress responses lasting hours
Troll and pole-and-line fishing methods have significantly lower bycatch rates than purse seining

Welfare Considerations

Tuna fishing welfare has two dimensions: the welfare of the tuna themselves and the bycatch species caught alongside them. Tuna are large, cognitively sophisticated fish with physiological complexity that suggests meaningful suffering capacity. Purse seine methods capture massive numbers of fish with high bycatch rates, while pole-and-line methods are more selective and less stressful for individual fish. Certification schemes recognizing these differences help consumers make impactful choices.

What You Can Do

Choose tuna certified by pole-and-line or troll methods with low bycatch rates
Look for Marine Stewardship Council certification for tuna with lower ecological and welfare impacts
Avoid canned tuna caught using FAD (fish aggregating device) methods with high bycatch rates
Reduce tuna consumption if you cannot reliably source welfare-conscious alternatives