Boat on the water during a golden sunset

Sustainable Fishing

Sustainable fishing minimizes the bycatch of millions of pristine sea creatures and gives fish species a chance to repopulate naturally. At Wild Planet, we envision a world where no sea creature is wasted, but instead, is wisely and gratefully used for food.
Fishing Methods

Not all fishing methods are created equal.

Learn more about the right and wasteful ways to fish our oceans. We source tuna using pole & line methods.

Fishing for Change video thumbnail
Fishing for Change video thumbnail
Illustration of pole & line fishing practice
Illustration of pole & line fishing practice
1

Best
Practice

Pole & Line

Practiced for centuries, pole & line fishing catches tuna from a bait boat. Live sardines and anchovies are thrown overboard attracting schools of tuna creating a feeding frenzy. Using a pole & line, fishermen catch and haul younger, migratory tuna onto the boat one-by-one.

Illustration of trolling fishing practice
Illustration of trolling fishing practice
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Best
Practice

Trolling

This sustainable fishing method involves towing artificial lures (also known as jigs) behind a slow-moving boat. When fishing for tuna, vessels rig their boats with approximately 10 to 20 fishing lines. Each is attached with a barbless jig that appeals to the targeted species: swimming albacore.

Graphic Representation of of Purse Seines with the use of Fish Aggregate Devices.
Graphic Representation of of Purse Seines with the use of Fish Aggregate Devices.
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Wasteful
Practice

Purse Seines with the use of FADs

FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices) are radio-beaconed floating devices that attract all types of fish beyond a targeted species. Small fish and tiny tuna aggregate to the cover of the FAD. These smaller fish then attract larger fish, which lures in even more species like sharks and turtles. These are caught along with the tuna and many are discarded. Catching tiny juvenile tuna results in lost food supply, while bycatch mortality disrupts the ocean’s natural balance and threatens local communities’ food security.

Illustration of Long-Line wasteful fishing practice
Illustration of Long-Line wasteful fishing practice
4

Wasteful
Practice

Long-Line Fishing

The most common method used to catch albacore worldwide, long-line fishing uses long lines that attract a variety of ocean species beyond tuna. Endangered sea turtles, sharks and other fish also bite the bait creating wasteful bycatch mortality and an unbalanced ocean ecosystem.

Little girl feeding his daddy a sandwich

Sourcing: From catch to can to shelf

At Wild Planet, we are deeply involved in our fish selection process from the dock to the shelf. We know the fishermen, boats and boat owners and our engagement continues when the boats are delivering the catch to the docks. Through our partnership with Trace Register, we are able to track each boatload of fish from the moment they reach the dock until they are delivered to your local store.

From Catch to Can