BELLEVUE, WASH. – May 2, 2024 – Tri Marine has reached a significant sustainability milestone by securing MSC certification for skipjack tuna sourced from the Eastern Pacific for its Spanish and Ecuadorian fleet, Atunera Dularra and Conservas Isabel Ecuatoriana. The certification, issued by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), applies to all skipjack tuna caught within the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). The fleet has already obtained MSC certification for skipjack, bigeye, and yellowfin in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), as well as yellowfin in the IATTC. It expects to include bigeye tuna in the certification scope by August. Upon completion, all tuna caught by the fleet will be eligible for MSC certification, further solidifying Tri Marine’s commitment to sustainable practices.​

To achieve MSC certification for skipjack in the IATTC, the fleet initiated a Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) in 2016 and then undertook a MSC pre-assessment in 2019. The fishery then moved into MSC full assessment in 2020. Yellowfin received full certification in 2021 followed by skipjack in 2024. This achievement marks a significant step towards Tri Marine’s dedication to quality and sustainability in the tuna industry. ​

​The IATTC boasts some of the world’s most effective tuna management measures, including fleet capacity restrictions, a 72-day fisheries closure period, limits on bigeye catches, and Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) management requirements. ​

​About Atunera Dularra and Conservas Isabel Ecuatoriana: ​

The fleet consists of two Spanish and two Ecuadorian flagged large-scale purse seiners operating in the Eastern and Central Pacific. Annually, it catches approximately 30,000 metric tons of tuna, with the volume processed by both Seafman and Conservas Isabel Ecuatoriana in Manta, Ecuador. All four vessels maintain strict compliance with 100% observer coverage overlayed with voluntary electronic monitoring. The fleet employs 187 crew members and is owned by Bolton under Tri Marine’s management.​

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About Tri Marine​

Tri Marine, a Bolton company, is a recognized leader in fishing, processing, and distributing high-quality tuna products to the world’s markets since 1972. The company focuses on quality, sustainability, innovation, and customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.trimarinegroup.com.​