New and Updated Ratings

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View the full list of currently published recommendations Note: The changes below will only be visible in the dataset after the release date May 2021 Updates to Our Recommendations New Ratings The existing trolling line ratings released in March 2021 were extended to encompass the following gear types.

Scientific Species Location Method Rating Justification Name

Bigeye tuna caught in the Western Central Pacific with handlines and hand- operated pole-and-lines is rated a Best Choice due to a yellow Management Handlines and score and green scores for all other criteria. The population isn’t depleted or Western Central hand- experiencing overfishing in this Pacific location. Management is rated Tuna, Bigeye Thunnus obesus Best Choice Pacific Ocean operated pole- moderately effective overall because some measures prevent overfishing and and-lines reduce bycatch, but they need strengthening. Species that play an essential role in the food web are caught or used for bait, and there are some measures to protect the ecosystem. Pole-and-line gears don’t impact the habitat.

Skipjack tuna caught in the Western Central Pacific with handlines and hand- operated pole-and-lines is rated a Best Choice due to a yellow Management Handlines and score and green scores for all other criteria. The population is healthy in these Tuna, Katsuwonus Western Central hand- Pacific locations, and overfishing is unlikely. Management is rated moderately Best Choice Skipjack pelamis Pacific Ocean operated pole- effective overall because some measures prevent overfishing and reduce and-lines bycatch, but they need strengthening. Species that play an essential role in the food web are caught or used for bait, and there are some measures to protect the ecosystem. Pole-and-line gears don’t impact the habitat.

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Archived These archives stem from a review of all MSC-certified tuna fisheries following the release of our new and updated tuna ratings in March 2021.

Scientific Species Location Method Certification Justification Name

French Seafood Watch assesses the management of tuna fisheries at the RFMO level, Polynesia - leading to a broad species/gear/RFMO set of ratings. MSC tuna fisheries covered Western Marine by broad Avoid ratings are only recognized if they are performing materially Swordfish Xiphias gladius Central Pacific Longlines Stewardship better than required by the RFMO in all major problem areas (i.e., they are clearly Ocean, Eastern Council operating at a level consistent with at least a Good Alternative rating). The Central Pacific following fisheries do not meet that threshold. Ocean

American Samoa EEZ Albacore and Yellowfin Longline Fishery American Marine Thunnus Samoa - Tuna, Albacore Longlines Stewardship Echebastar Indian Ocean Purse Seine Skipjack Tuna alalunga Southwest Council Pacific Ocean Fiji Albacore, Yellowfin and Bigeye Tuna Longline

Cook Islands - French Polynesia Albacore and Yellowfin Longline Fishery Eastern Central Marine Thunnus Tuna, Albacore Pacific Ocean, Longlines Stewardship Maldives Pole & Line Skipjack Tuna alalunga Southwest Council Pacific Ocean Solomon Islands Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna Purse Seine and Pole and Line

Fiji - Western SZLC CSFC FZLC FSM EEZ Longline Yellowfin and Bigeye Tuna Central Pacific Marine Thunnus SZLC, CSFC & FZLC Cook Islands EEZ South Pacific Albacore, Yellowfin and Bigeye Tuna, Albacore Ocean, Eastern Longlines Stewardship alalunga Longline Central Pacific Council Ocean

French Polynesia - Western Marine Thunnus Tuna, Albacore Central Pacific Longlines Stewardship alalunga Ocean, Eastern Council Central Pacific Ocean

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Scientific Species Location Method Certification Justification Name

Cook Islands - Eastern Central Marine Tuna, Bigeye Thunnus obesus Pacific Ocean, Longlines Stewardship Southwest Council Pacific Ocean

Federated States of Marine Micronesia - Tuna, Bigeye Thunnus obesus Longlines Stewardship Western Council Central Pacific Ocean

Fiji - Western Central Pacific Marine Tuna, Bigeye Thunnus obesus Ocean, Eastern Longlines Stewardship Central Pacific Council Ocean

Maldives - Marine Katsuwonus Tuna, Skipjack Western Indian Hooks and lines Stewardship pelamis Ocean Council

Solomon Islands - Handlines and Marine Katsuwonus Tuna, Skipjack Western hand-operated Stewardship pelamis Central Pacific pole-and-lines Council Ocean

Solomon Islands - Marine Katsuwonus Tuna, Skipjack Western Purse seines Stewardship pelamis Central Pacific Council Ocean

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Scientific Species Location Method Certification Justification Name

Spain – Marine Katsuwonus Western Indian Tuna, Skipjack Purse seines Stewardship pelamis Ocean, Eastern Council Indian Ocean

American Marine Thunnus Samoa - Tuna, Yellowfin Longlines Stewardship albacares Southwest Council Pacific Ocean

Cook Islands - Eastern Central Marine Thunnus Tuna, Yellowfin Pacific Ocean, Longlines Stewardship albacares Southwest Council Pacific Ocean

Federated States of Marine Thunnus Micronesia - Tuna, Yellowfin Longlines Stewardship albacares Western Council Central Pacific Ocean

Fiji - Western Central Pacific Marine Thunnus Tuna, Yellowfin Ocean, Eastern Longlines Stewardship albacares Central Pacific Council Ocean

French Polynesia - Western Marine Thunnus Tuna, Yellowfin Central Pacific Longlines Stewardship albacares Ocean, Eastern Council Central Pacific Ocean

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Scientific Species Location Method Certification Justification Name

Solomon Islands - Handlines and Marine Thunnus Tuna, Yellowfin Western hand-operated Stewardship albacares Central Pacific pole-and-lines Council Ocean

Solomon Islands - Marine Thunnus Tuna, Yellowfin Western Purse seines Stewardship albacares Central Pacific Council Ocean

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