14 DAY TRIAL // Those who are aching and breaking inside for a tuna sandwich but who fear that their indulging in one such culinary delight might spell environmental disaster and biodiversity collapse need look no further than Sainsbury's to put an end to their ordeal.
Thus, media reports say that this chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom has recently announced that its customers can now buy and sink their teeth into eco-friendly tuna sandwiches.
Mind you, when Sainsbury's says that it is now serving green tuna sandwiches, it does not mean that the bread that goes into making them is baked in a solar-powered oven or anything of the sorts.
On the contrary, what the United Kingdom-based chain of supermarkets means to say is that the fish that it currently uses to make its tuna sandwiches is Marine Stewardship Council-certified, Business Green informs.
This Marine Stewardship Council certification that Sainsbury's tuna sandwiches can now brag about whenever a treats-and-snacks gathering goes down refers to the fact that the fish is either pole- or line-caught, the same source explains.
Studies have shown that, unlike other techniques used to land tuna, pole and line fishing are fairly sustainable. This is because these two techniques are linked to a low risk of bycatch, which several studies have proven to be a major threat to marine ecosystems.
Bycatch refers to aquatic creatures that are caught unintentionally when fishing for target species. In some cases, the animals that accidentally get caught in fishing nets and the like belong to endangered species, which is why conservationists are asking fisheries to green up their ways without delay.
“The UK's first MSC-certified tuna sandwich is a milestone for sustainable seafood,” Toby Middleton with the Marine Stewardship council commented on Sainsbury's most recent push for sustainability in an interview with the press.
“Tuna is a poster child for sustainable seafood and Maldivian pole and line-caught skipjack tuna was MSC certified in 2012. By choosing tuna from the Maldives tuna fishery, Sainsbury's is supporting artisanal fishermen who have made an international difference to the way the Indian Ocean fishery is managed,” he added.
Interestingly enough, Sainsbury's claims to be the first retailer in the United Kingdom to offer its customers Marine Stewardship Council-certified tuna sandwiches.
This move follows the chain of supermarkets' 2013 announcement that it had introduced Marine Stewardship Council-certified canned skipjack tuna originating from the Maldives in its product line in an attempt to promote and support low-impact fishing techniques.