Since its launch in April 2024, the Tuna Transparency Pledge has surged in influence, rallying some of the world’s largest retailers, suppliers, and food service giants across North America, Europe, and beyond. Its latest signatories—Carrefour, Aramark, Culimer USA, Lusamerica Foods, Pacific Island Tuna, and the Association of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels (AGAC)—join a growing coalition determined to reshape the global tuna industry.
This initiative, spearheaded by international NGO The Nature Conservancy (TNC), directly targets illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a longstanding challenge threatening marine ecosystems. The Pledge is not just a symbolic commitment—it’s a transformative push for 100% on-the-water monitoring across all industrial tuna fishing vessels within signatories’ supply chains or jurisdictions by 2027.
“Without transparency at sea, illegally and unsustainably caught fish will continue entering the supply chain undetected,” said Ben Gilmer, Large-Scale Fisheries Director for TNC. “On-the-water monitoring is ready to scale today and helps ensure that the seafood on our plates has been harvested in compliance with fishery laws and social standards. We applaud the new signatories of the Tuna Transparency Pledge for helping to build this critical market momentum to support ocean wildlife protection and a lasting seafood supply.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Industrial fishing spans over half of the ocean’s surface—a footprint three times larger than land-based agriculture. For billions of people, seafood remains a primary source of protein, and as the global population approaches 10 billion, the demand for fish will only intensify. Yet, 90% of global fisheries are already fished to their maximum sustainable levels.
Tuna, a prized commodity with an annual global production of five million tons and a staggering $10 billion dockside value, sits at the heart of this crisis. Without robust monitoring systems, supply chains lack the transparency needed to verify compliance with fishing regulations and social standards. The consequences? Ecosystem collapse, loss of biodiversity, and a weakening of consumer trust in seafood products.
One of the biggest barriers to sustainability in tuna fisheries is the lack of verifiable data. Fisheries authorities, suppliers, and retailers are often operating blind, unable to confirm whether tuna is caught legally and sustainably. The solution? A two-pronged approach:
Electronic Monitoring – Advanced onboard systems using video cameras, GPS, and sensors to track and verify fishing activities.
Human Observers – Independent personnel stationed on vessels to document catch activity and ensure compliance.
"Electronic monitoring presents an incredible opportunity to scale observer coverage and increase data collection and monitoring onboard tuna vessels,” said Katheryn Novak, Biodiversity & Nature Director of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. “Longline tuna fisheries, in particular, interact with some of the most vulnerable species of marine wildlife, yet have the lowest levels of observer coverage and monitoring. Companies taking the Pledge and working with their supply chains to increase monitoring can help reduce bycatch of seabirds and sharks and ensure compliance with regulations, social and labor safeguards, and corporate requirements and standards."
With these measures in place, supply chain actors gain real-time, indisputable evidence that their tuna products meet environmental and ethical standards. Furthermore, on-the-water monitoring establishes a level playing field, protecting law-abiding fishers from unfair competition.
The Nature Conservancy is rallying major seafood buyers, governments, and industry stakeholders to sign the Tuna Transparency Pledge and help drive large-scale adoption of monitoring technologies. Early adopters—including Walmart, Albertsons Companies, Thai Union, and the Governments of Belize and the Federated States of Micronesia—have already set the stage for change.
Now, the challenge is scaling up. Retailers, food service providers, tuna processors, and distributors wield immense purchasing power that can be harnessed to demand transparency and push for industry-wide reform. By committing to 100% on-the-water monitoring, companies safeguard ocean ecosystems and fortify their business models, ensuring long-term supply chain stability.
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