The Secrets of the Tuna Industry

The Secrets of the Tuna Industry

Fish Aggregation devices (FAD) and Long-lines are two of the tuna industry’s dirty little secrets. These two massively destructive fishing methods kill thousands of turtles, sharks and seabirds every year (Greenpeace 2010).

I consider this topic morally wrong given the facts regarding this issue. The tuna industry has found a way to cut some pretty significant corners, which consumers are unaware of. It has led to a number of terrible consequences such as fish aggregation devices (FAD), long-lines, unregulated fishing in the high seas, and stolen fish, and stolen future. FADs are floating objects that tuna vessels cast adrift in the open ocean, which doesn’t just attract tuna, but many other species in the ocean, such as, shards, billfish, turtles, and other animals. After a few weeks at sea, a FAD can develop an entire ecosystem around it, which is wiped out entirely when the tuna boat returns and scoops the whole thing up in the seine net. 15 to 20 percent of the total catch of a FAD is actually juvenile yellowfin and bigeye, two species of tuna that are in serious trouble and cannot afford to have their young killed before they have a chance to breed (Greenpeace 2010). Longlines are another source of capturing tuna and killing other ocean species. This massively destructive operation is estimated to be somewhere just shy of 30% of the total catch. Nearly one third of the total catch is not tuna, which is a terrible casualty of this industry’s callousness and greed. These tuna vessels operate in the high seas, which technically have no quotas or maximum limits. They do not have to pay dues or access fees to the countries that actually own and manage these areas. Tuna should be caught in managed waters and tuna consumers should refuse to buy from companies that fish in these high seas pockets.

I find this subject morally unacceptable. The methods being used are unethical and they are destroying our ocean’s...