This week marks 10 years that Waitrose & Partners has been exclusively selling pole and line caught tuna across its canned own label range.

The pledge, which Waitrose & Partners committed to in 2009, was made to ensure the sustainable fishing of tuna, as well as to preserve ocean biodiversity.

Despite other UK food companies making similar commitments, Waitrose & Partners remains the only dedicated food supermarket retailer in the UK to exclusively source all of its canned tuna through MSC certified pole and line methods.

Melissa Tillotson, Aquaculture & Fisheries manager at Waitrose & Partners, comments: “Hooking individual tuna one by one, such as through pole and line or troll caught methods, is a highly selective way to fish, helping to minimise the risk of catching other species, including endangered turtles, dolphins and sharks.

“Waitrose & Partners has a long history of sourcing responsibly and we are committed to doing our part to preserve the biodiversity in our oceans. We strongly believe that sourcing 100% of our canned tuna through pole and line methods from MSC certified fisheries is the right thing to do.”

George Clark at the Marine Stewardship Council, comments: “Waitrose has taken great strides forward in the sustainable sourcing of seafood and is leading by example as the only current supermarket in the UK to exclusively have all its own label tinned tuna MSC certified.  

“Tuna is perhaps the biggest challenge and most underrepresented when it comes to having certified seafood options available to UK customers and, like Waitrose has, it is vital that retailers continue to reward tuna fisheries that have demonstrated sustainable practices to ensure tuna fishing progresses towards a fully sustainable basis.”

To learn more about Waitrose & Partners' sustainable fishing policies, visit the page below:

https://www.waitrose.com/home/inspiration/about_waitrose/the_waitrose_way/waitrose_animal_welfarecommitments.html

For more information please contact:
Matthew Clemens
matthew.clemens@waitrose.co.uk
01344 825080

About Waitrose & Partners

Waitrose & Partners has 338 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 61 convenience branches, and another 27 shops at Welcome Break locations. It combines the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist shop - dedicated to offering quality food that has been responsibly sourced, combined with high standards of customer service. Waitrose & Partners is an employee-owned business - all employees are Partners and have a say in how the business is run.

Waitrose & Partners exports products to more than 50 countries worldwide and has nine shops which operate under licence in the Middle East. The retailer's omnichannel business includes the online grocery service, Waitrose.com, as well as specialist online shops including waitrosecellar.com for wine and waitroseflorist.com for plants and flowers.
Waitrose & Partners exports products to more than 50 countries worldwide and has nine shops which operate under licence in the Middle East. The retailer's omnichannel business includes the online grocery service, Waitrose.com, as well as specialist online shops including waitrosecellar.com for wine and waitroseflorist.com for plants and flowers.