Paris, France – April 11, 2025 — French multinational retailer Carrefour has signed The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Tuna Transparency Pledge, aligning with a global initiative aimed at enhancing transparency and sustainability across industrial tuna fisheries.
The pledge, launched by TNC in April 2024, calls for 100 percent on-the-water monitoring across all industrial tuna fishing vessels within signatories’ supply chains by 2027. Carrefour joins other recent signatories including Aramark, Culimer USA, Lusamerica Foods, Pacific Island Tuna, and the Association of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels (AGAC).
The Tuna Transparency Pledge is gaining support amid increasing global scrutiny of seafood supply chains, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for legal, ethical, and environmentally sustainable sourcing practices.
Global Context of Tuna Supply Chain Oversight
Tuna is one of the world’s most commercially valuable seafood commodities, with over seven million tonnes harvested annually and a dockside value of approximately USD 10 billion. However, concerns persist over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the lack of adequate monitoring in industrial tuna fisheries. According to TNC, industrial fishing spans more than half of the ocean’s surface, yet only a small percentage of vessels currently operate under independent monitoring systems.
The Tuna Transparency Pledge aims to address these gaps by requiring participating companies to ensure that all industrial tuna vessels in their supply chains implement verified monitoring measures, such as electronic systems with cameras, GPS, and sensors, or human observers.
“Without transparency at sea, illegally and unsustainably caught fish will continue entering the supply chain undetected,” said Ben Gilmer, Large-Scale Fisheries Director at TNC. “On-the-water monitoring is ready to scale and helps ensure that seafood is harvested in compliance with fishery laws and social standards.”
Carrefour’s Role in the Initiative
Carrefour’s participation in the pledge builds on its prior engagements in sustainable seafood sourcing, including its membership in the Global Tuna Alliance. In a statement, Carine Kraus, Chief Impact Officer at Carrefour, acknowledged the importance of addressing sustainability and human rights concerns in tuna supply chains.
“Tuna is a key product for us, and its supply chain poses both environmental and human rights challenges,” Kraus said. “Joining the Tuna Transparency Pledge allows us to continue our efforts toward improving traceability and sustainability.”
Industry-Wide Momentum
Founding members of the pledge include companies such as Walmart, Thai Union, and Albertsons Companies, alongside the governments of Belize and the Federated States of Micronesia. According to supporters, the growing number of signatories signals increasing industry recognition that supply chain transparency is essential for long-term resource sustainability.
“Electronic monitoring presents an opportunity to improve data collection and reduce bycatch in longline tuna fisheries, which interact with vulnerable marine species,” said Katheryn Novak, Biodiversity & Nature Director at the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership.
TNC and other advocacy organizations continue to encourage additional participation from retailers, seafood buyers, and governments, noting that broader adoption of transparency measures could create a more level playing field for responsible operators and support consumer trust in sustainably sourced seafood.
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