StarKist assures customers they remain ‘dolphin safe’

U.S. based StarKist Co., owner of StarKist Samoa cannery in American Samoa, along with two other major U.S. tuna brand names, have voiced their disappointment over a ruling by the World Trade Organization appeals court dealing with the U.S. regulations for a “dolphin-safe” label on its tuna canned products.

The WTO decision, issued Wednesday, states in part that the U.S. “dolphin-safe” label discriminates against Mexican tuna fleets that rely on controversial chasing-and-netting techniques that can harm and kill the marine mammals, according to the Washington Post newspaper.

Samoa News sent e-mail inquiries Wednesday to Mary Sestric, spokesperson for StarKist’s corporate office in Pittsburgh, Pa., seeking comments and reactions to the WTO appeals decision and its impact on StarKist Samoa and Dongwon tuna canning operations.

However, Sestric shared a joint statement by StarKist, Chicken of the Sea International and Bumble Bee - the three major U.S. tuna brands - on the dolphin safe tuna ruling, which is the same statement released to the national media following the WTO ruling.

According to the statement, the three household tuna brands “are disappointed” in the ruling “because it is likely to create consumer confusion about whether or not their products continue to be dolphin safe.”

“The three U.S. brands want to reassure consumers they have no reason to be concerned that their companies are wavering in their commitment to provide dolphin safe tuna as a result of this ruling,” the statement says.  “These companies do not and will not utilize tuna caught in a manner that harms dolphins.  Providing consumers with sustainable and dolphin safe tuna remains a top priority.”

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports yesterday that StarKist’s parent company,  Dongwon industries has applied to become a participating company in the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). As part of the application process, the South Korean based Dongwon will participate in an audit of its traceability processes.

Pittsburgh-based StarKist, a founding member of the group, was acquired by Dongwon in 2008. ISSF is a global coalition of scientists, the tuna industry and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s leading conservation organization, promoting science-based initiatives for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of tuna stocks, reducing bycatch and promoting ecosystem health, according to the group’s website.