Norway's Largest Retailer to List Pacifical MSC Tuna

SINGAPORE, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- Unil AS, the purchasing unit responsible for the private labels of Norway’s largest retailer NorgesGruppen, wants Pacifical tuna because it supports the eight small island countries that are sustainably managing the skipjack tuna sourced from their waters. “The main reason we want to work with Pacifical is the sustainable approach and the fact that it is from the PNA,” said Einar Mosvoll, senior procurement manager at Unil AS. The PNA, or Parties to the Nauru Agreement, are eight Pacific island nations and home to a fishery that only targets free swimming schools of mature skipjack tuna. The fishery does not use the controversial fish-aggregating devices (FADS), has minimum by-catch of baby tuna and other species, and is certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-label. “We do recognise that supporting the PNA countries is important,” Mosvoll said. In a statement issued Friday, Unil AS is calling on tuna fishing companies and processors active in the region to seize the opportunity to start catching and supplying the premium canned tuna sustainably, which Unil is interested in buying and which will be cobranded in the market as Pacifical. The statement follows similar efforts by other major European, Australian and African retailers, who are also eagerly waiting for the first shipments of sustainable tuna to arrive. Pacifical tuna will be the second canned MSC-certified product offered by NorgesGruppen’s private label after canned mussels. NorgesGruppen represents the largest market share in the Norwegian retail sector of about 40 per cent and has over 1,700 retail outlets and 600 kiosks. --BERNAMA