Retailers join calls for ‘urgent’ action to restrict harmful tuna fishing methods

Fish aggregating devices' have been linked to depletion of yellowfin populations and increased bycatch in the Indian Ocean

Global condemnation is growing at the increasingly widespread use of harmful fish aggregating devices" (FADs) in the fishing industry, as retailers including Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer and the German chain Edeka joined calls for restrictions.

A letter signed by more than 100 NGOs, retailers and artisanal fisheries urges this week's meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) to consider proposals by Kenya and Sri Lanka to monitor, manage and restrict FADs. The signatories warn of an urgent need" to improve management of FADs in order to reduce overfishing and rebuild populations of yellowfin tuna.