French retailers accounting between them for more than 40% of the country’s retail market have joined the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA), just ahead of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) meeting due to take place next week in Bangkok – where decision-makers will have a further opportunity to strike a deal to remedy the long-term overfishing of Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna.
This is news at a critical point, and this development could increase market-driven pressure on the IOTC to address the yellowfin situation.GTA is pushing hard with its IOTC campaign, aiming to transform the RFMO and enhance sustainable practices within the industry.
As part of this initiative, GTA is excited to introduce the Module Complémentaire, an innovative pilot designed specifically for French retail partners. This module aims to strengthen sustainability efforts by providing comprehensive surveys of canned tuna sourcing, right down to vessel level details. This data enables partners to identify and mitigate potential risks in their supply chains, helping them to make informed decisions and strengthen their companies’ sustainability practices.
These new partnership commitments from leading French retailers – Les Mousquetaires, Système U, Lidl, and Casino – represent more than 40% of the food and beverage market share in France and underscore a significant shift towards sustainability. METRO, an existing GTA member, has committed to join the Module Complémentaire for its French stores as well, reinforcing the retail sector’s dedication to environmental responsibility and collaborative efforts to achieve shared sustainability goals.
‘French retailers demonstrate their serious commitment to sustainability and set a commendable example for others in the industry. For France, with its Réunion department in the Indian Ocean, it is heartening to see such significant support as we commence our IOTC campaign, ensuring that our collective efforts will lead to meaningful and lasting impacts in tuna conservation. We hope the increasingly powerful voice of the market is heard at the up and coming IOTC meeting,’ said GTA executive director Daniel Suddaby
GTA claims that current Indian Ocean management plans have proven insufficient for protecting key tuna stocks, leaving them vulnerable to overfishing.
‘As a French citizen, I’m really proud to see such enthusiasm and commitment from our major retailers in embracing sustainability within the tuna supply chain, thanks to the Module Complémentaire,’ commented Eloïse Fagot, French-based GTA Partnerships & Operations Officer.
