Skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna catches from the TUNACONS fleet are now MSC certified.
La Cámara Nacional de Pesquería
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has certified that the tuna caught by the Ecuadorian tuna fleet, which is part of the Tuna Conservation Group (TUNACONS) dedicated to the sustainable conservation of tropical tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, is 100% sustainable.
TUNACONS has worked over the past eight years to ensure that 100% of its catches of skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna obtained the certification that guarantees responsible and sustainable fishing.
"This is the first fishery in the country to achieve MSC certification, which reinforces Ecuador's commitment to sustainability," confirmed Cristian Vallejos, MSC Program Director for Latin America.
According to Ecuador's National Chamber of Fisheries, in 2024, exports of tuna loins and canned tuna reached a historic high of $1.5787 billion, representing a 27.6% increase compared to 2023.
Ecuador's Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries announced that on February 14 the country marked a new milestone in its foreign trade with the first export of canned tuna to China, thus strengthening its presence in the world's second largest economy.
Furthermore, Ecuador became in 2024 the first Latin American country to adopt the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), which sets out twelve requirements to assess a country’s fisheries regulations, marine resources, and both industrial and artisanal fisheries.
