Greenpeace has ranked a Mitsubishi Corporation subsidiary as the UK’s most environmentally damaging brand of canned tuna, according to a press release on 10 January.
Princes employs destructive fishing methods and its claims of sustainability are blatantly untrue, the NPO said. After Greenpeace complained to the UK Office of Fair Trading that Princes was misleading the public, The Independent reported that the firm had said on 11 January that it would immediately ditch labelling claiming its fishing methods protect the environment and marine life, and that it would instead refer shoppers to a statement on its website.
Complaints by Greenpeace included that Princes does not identify species or origin on labels; it is killing overfished species; and uses unreliable figures on which to base the claim that 25% of its products are caught using sustainable methods. Princes is one of the most popular brands of canned tuna in the UK, the world’s second-biggest consumer.
“Endangered sharks and other species are being killed all the time while tuna is being caught to be put in tins. And, despite the hugely misleading claims on their cans, Princes are the worst of the lot”, said David Ritter, Greenpeace UK Oceans campaign manager.
“It’s time for Princes to follow other industry leaders and stop selling tuna caught using methods that cause the death of sharks and many other marine animals”.
Greenpeace surveyed eight major UK brands of canned tuna and ranked them according to sustainability. Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer tied for top place.
