Photo: OPAGAC/FIS

Spanish Tuna Fleet Achieves MSC Certification for 95% of Catches, Totaling 345,000 Tonnes

OPAGAC becomes the world's first fishery to certify the Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock, now holding the MSC label for 10 of the 12 tuna stocks it harvests.

MADRID - The Spanish tuna fleet, organized under the Organization of Producers of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels (OPAGAC/AGAC), has reached a global milestone by successfully obtaining Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for the yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) stock in the Indian Ocean.

This latest certification raises the total proportion of the fleet's tropical tuna catches holding the MSC label to 95%, equivalent to approximately 345,000 tonnes annually. This volume represents about 7% of the world's total tuna catch and spans the three oceans and four Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) where the fleet operates (ICCAT, IOTC, IATTC, and WCPFC).

100% Certification Goal in Sight

Currently, 10 of the 12 tuna stocks caught by the OPAGAC fleet are MSC-certified. These include yellowfin and skipjack in the Indian, Atlantic, Western Pacific, and Eastern Pacific oceans, as well as bigeye in the Western and Eastern Pacific.

The remaining 5% corresponds to the bigeye stocks in the Atlantic and Indian oceans. However, the most recent scientific assessments indicate a "favorable evolution" in the status of these two stocks, giving OPAGAC confidence that it can move toward its goal of achieving 100% certification within the next year.

Julio Morón, Managing Director of OPAGAC/AGAC, commented on the achievement:

"Being the first to certify Indian Ocean yellowfin is a decisive step toward our goal of having 100% of our catches certified. Reaching 95% certification under the MSC standard is the result of more than a decade of joint work by vessel owners, sailors, and scientists, voluntarily applying pioneering measures to conduct our activities under the highest sustainability criteria."

Responsible Fishing Protocols

The Indian Ocean yellowfin certification was granted following an independent evaluation by the entity LRQA (formerly Lloyd’s Register), which rigorously analyzed the fleet's practices, including:

• Observer Coverage: Verification of 100% coverage of onboard observers (human or electronic).

• Technology: Responsible management of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs).

• Environmental Impact: Assessment of data collection systems and the reduction of interactions with protected species.

Since 2012, the fleet has implemented a Code of Good Practices that includes the progressive use of non-entangling and biodegradable FADs, detailed protocols for the safe release of non-target species, and continuous training for crews.

With this latest certification, OPAGAC solidifies its position as a global leader in sustainable fishing and one of the few fleets worldwide with a double sustainability guarantee, as it also holds the Responsibly Caught Tuna (APR) certification, which verifies good social, labor, and environmental practices across all its operations.

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