What you can do

Unless urgent action is taken Atlantic bluefin tuna will soon disappear from the Mediterranean and our plates.

The best Atlantic bluefin tuna choice is that caught legally and over 30kg in size. However, it is virtually impossible for you to know whether tuna has been caught legally or not, or whether filleted and processed tuna came from a juvenile.

So until ICCAT has agreed a satisfactory recovery plan, WWF strongly advises that you avoid Atlantic bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean – unless it is caught using sustainable methods like the traditional tuna traps of Andalusia in Southern Spain. Ask your fishmonger, fish market or sushi restaurant to switch to other species – or other stocks that are sustainably managed.

How can I avoid industrially overfished bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean...

...when I go to my favourite Japanese restaurant for sushi and sashimi?

Check with your restaurateur where he or she sources bluefin tuna. If it is from the Mediterranean, WWF advises that you avoid it – unless the restaurateur can prove that it has been sustainably fished. Ask your restaurant not to serve bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean in its dishes – until ICCAT agrees a strict recovery plan, or unless it is sustainably caught.

...when I visit my fishmonger or fish market to buy fresh tuna for tuna steak?

Ask your fishmonger whether the tuna is Atlantic bluefin, and whether it comes from the Mediterranean. If so, do not buy it. Ask him or her not to sell bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean – until ICCAT agrees a strict recovery plan, or unless it is sustainably caught.

...when I buy tuna from my supermarket?

If you want to buy tuna from the fresh fish stand of your supermarket, ask the fishmonger whether the tuna is Atlantic bluefin, and whether it comes from the Mediterranean. If so, WWF advises that you avoid it. Ask your retailer not to stock bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean – until ICCAT agrees a strict recovery plan, or unless it is sustainably caught.

A tin of tuna off the supermarket shelf is very unlikely to be bluefin tuna. Most tinned tuna is yellowfin or skipjack. While these species are in better shape than bluefin, for the best environmental choice, look out for MSC-certified albacore tuna or check out a WWF seafood guide for other sustainable seafood options.

Other ways of helping bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean

Join WWF
Saving precious resources like bluefin tuna is a top priority for WWF, and every cent, penny or rupee we raise is vital. Our experts are working in the Mediterranean and around the world by lobbying governments, educating people and finding sustainable solutions in an effort to save our waters, but it can't be done without the support of people like you.

WWF urgently needs funds to help protect bluefin tuna and other endangered species and their habitats around the world. Please join WWF today.

Act responsibly towards our oceans
However you enjoy the sea – as a swimmer, snorkeller, diver, angler, beachcomber, boater, or seafood lover – or even if you've never been there, we can all help protect our marine environment. Find out how you can help protect our oceans and coasts.

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