about American Albacore
Wow, it’s white…Yes this is most people’s first impression of American Albacore sashimi grade tuna. What was once for the exclusive few on the Japanese market has now reached the shores of Europe! And it’s high Omega 3 levels makes this the most delicious and healthy tuna. Each Albacore is handled by hand and individually frozen with such care and attention to maintain the highest quality and remain the best of the best.
Another important factor to take into consideration when choosing your next fish dinner is what else is discarded along the way…… with American Albacore tuna we are happy to say nothing. Due to the method of catch there is no reported by-catch unlike to the bigger tuna vessels that catch everything from turtles, albatrosses and sharks.
Responsible Fishing
A few years ago six fishing families on the west-coast of the United States wanted to make a stand and look at protecting their fishery and way of fishing for generations to come; American Albacore Fishing Association was formed. With a lot of persistence and the support of WWF they succeeded to become the first tuna fishery on the planet to achieve the highly regarded MSC eco-label, and to date the only tuna fishery with this eco-label.
The MSC eco –label allows complete traceability of each and every fish and guarantees an healthy fish stock and good management. In a world with the demand for fish on the increase especially in developing worlds pirate fishing is becoming an epidemic and if we do not pull together now and put a stop to un-regulated fishing it may be too late.
The AAFA fishermen fish with small tuna boats from June till October. Onboard of the AAFA fishing fleet they use handlines, thus every tuna is caught individually by hand with no bycatch. Hand lining is more sustainable than the commonly used long lines and purseines. Long lines can be up to hundred kilometers long. Purseining is a fishing method whereby floating devices attract large amounts of fish, while big nets are rotated around them. Both fishing practices result in a lot of bycatch, such as turtles, sharks, seabirds, young tuna and other fish species. These species are thrown back in the water, more dead than alive.
Albacore stocks
In the North Atlantic, there has been an overall downward trend in Albacore Tuna abundance since the mid-1980s. In the South Atlantic, the number of mature adults has declined since the 1980s but remains above the number of spawners needed to produce maximum sustainable yield (ICCAT 2004). There are no biomass estimates available for Albacore Tuna in the Mediterranean; and catch data show no major trend over time, except that catches peaked in 2003 at 7,415 metric tons (mt; ICCAT 2004).
Biomass of Albacore Tuna in the North Pacific is estimated to be 510,000 mt, which is 40% higher than the 1975 biomass level. Recruitment to the population was greater in the 1990s than in the 1980s, and catch per unit effort (CPUE) for many North Pacific Albacore Tuna fisheries has increased (IATTC 2004).
Biomass in the South Pacific, however, is estimated to be 60% of the 1950s biomass level (SCTB 2004). In American Samoan longline fisheries, CPUE decreased by 36% in 2003 from the 2002 level (Ito and Hamm 2004).
CPUE data in the Indian Ocean show a sharp decline: in 1960-64, CPUE was high (10 fish/1000 hooks), but it has since declined to less than 2 fish/1000 hooks. However, managers speculate that this decline may indicate changes in targeting strategy of fishers, not changes in abundance and suggest caution when using CPUE data as a measure of Indian Ocean Albacore Tuna abundance (IOTC 2004).
The North Atlantic population of Albacore Tuna is listed as overfished, but the South Atlantic population is not (ICCAT 2004). Fishing mortality of Albacore Tuna is high in the North Pacific; however, the population is not overfished (Crone, pers. comm., 2004). Neither the South Pacific or Indian Ocean population of Albacore Tuna is listed as overfished (IOTC 2004; SCTB 2004).
Pole and troll gears fish near the ocean surface and are likely to have a low impact on habitat.
In the North Atlantic, surface and longline fisheries target Albacore Tuna. The surface fleets (mainly baitboats, Spanish trollers, and French and Irish mid-water paired pelagic trawl vessels) target juveniles and sub-adults, while Taiwanese longline fleets target sub-adults and adults. In the South Atlantic, Albacore Tuna are mainly caught with South African and Namibian baitboats that mainly catch juveniles and Brazilian and Taiwanese longline fleets. The longline fleets either target Albacore Tuna or catch them incidental to Swordfish and Bigeye Tuna (ICCAT 2004).
In the Eastern Pacific, troll fisheries catch the largest proportion of Albacore Tuna, whereas in the North Pacific, longline and pole-and-line gear dominate the Albacore Tuna fishery, followed by troll gear (IATTC 2004).
In the Western and Central Pacific, longline and pole-and-line gears dominate the Albacore Tuna fishery. In the South Pacific, the majority of catches are made with longline gear, followed by troll gear (SCTB 2004).
In the Indian Ocean, pole and troll gears catch less than 2% of the annual Albacore Tuna catch (IOTC 2004).
Many international agencies are involved in the research and management of tuna species and the fisheries that target them. Overall, they have only succeeded in stabilizing tuna biomass at low levels compared to historic levels (Myers and Worm 2003).
Several of these agencies have mandates to recommend management measures to member countries. They are the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in the eastern Pacific, the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). Other organizations conduct research and population assessments and include the North Pacific Albacore Workshop, the Forum Fisheries Agency in the South Pacific, and the Standing Committee on Tuna and Billfish (SCTB).
Despite the abundance of tuna commissions, overall, there is very minimal management in place for Albacore Tuna. Quotas are in place in the Atlantic only, yet, in the North Atlantic, the Albacore Tuna population is overfished. In the South Atlantic, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was exceeded twice in the last 4 years. There are no ICCAT regulations managing Albacore Tuna fisheries in the Mediterranean, despite the rapid increase in landings over the last 10 years (ICCAT 2004).
Current catch levels in the Indian Ocean are not sustainable, and estimates of abundance based on catch-per-unit-effort data are unreliable. Managers do not understand the structure of the Albacore Tuna population, or even if there is significant mixing between the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean populations (IOTC 2004).
Although we were not able to find quantitative estimates of bycatch for the world's pole and troll Albacore Tuna fisheries, data collected by U.S. fishery managers on domestic and international fisheries is useful. In the Atlantic, small numbers of Bluefin, Yellowfin, and Bigeye Tuna are discarded in commercial handgear fisheries that land Albacore Tuna in the Atlantic (NMFS 2003).
U.S. observer data show that Albacore Tuna pole and troll fisheries discard only minor amounts of undersized Albacore, Skipjack, Bluefin, and Yellowfin Tunas, Dorado, billfishes, and sharks. According to the Pacific Fishery Management Council, bycatch in foreign Albacore Tuna pole and troll fisheries is essentially the same as in U.S. fisheries. (PFMC 2003).
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean, purse-seine fisheries that target Yellowfin, Skipjack, and Bigeye Tunas also capture Albacore Tuna. Californian and Hawaiian longline fisheries discard 9.3% of the Albacore Tuna they catch (Ito and Hamm 2004).
Pole and troll fisheries have very low bycatch of non-targeted species and are a model for selective fisheries. Discarded fish, including undersized individuals, are usually in a viable condition (WPFMC 2002).
American Albacore Fishing Association (AAFA) was certified with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco label. This is a pole and line fishery which focuses mainly on the healthy North Pacific stocks. The MSC’s chain of custody certificate ensures that the fish landed is being traced and monitored by a third party. This not only prevents Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported (IUU) fishing but also creates important and necessary information to be able to monitor the stocks going forward.
AAFA is a fishing association, solely governed not by greedy processor’s but the fisherman who’s main and only objective is to manage and protect the stocks for the future. AAFA participates in many research programmes, also training and information seminar’s.
Fishes has been working in collaboration with AAFA since early 2007, helping to open and develop new markets. Fishes is continually working with research bodies and NGO’s to develop awareness and help protect stock’s.
Fishes play’s a major role in developing sustainable policies and management criteria’s with fisheries around the world. Fishes work’s with predominately Artisan fisheries helping smaller scale fisheries find a market outside their local region, thus creating a stable income which is important for the social economics of a fishery.
Although we have a large challenge ahead, Fishes believes with the help of it’s partner’s and the enthusiasm of new fisheries wanting to become sustainable - the future is bright.
Wholeround
AAFA is made up of two styles of fishing, pole and line (bait boats) which is brine frozen and usually for the canned market. Then there are the jig boats who have large blast freezers aboard. With both methods the fish is carefully handled by hand to maintain the highest quality possible.
With both the blast and the brine we can ship the fish anywhere in the world and any volumes, but it is a very popular fishery and very sought after so you need to be quick.
The average fish is between 12-20lbs, with some of the highest oil content of any Albacore on the globe.It is the objective of both Fishes and AAFA to keep creating new markets, not only to focus on the traditional ones.
If you would like more information on this product please feel free to contact us and we are more than happy to look at new possibilities.
Chilled and frozen loins
2008 has seen the introduction and launch of sashimi grade American Albacore loins. This is an extremely high, ones frozen, product, great for a re-fresh on the fish counter. The loins range from 500gr – 1700gr and are both skinless and boneless.
This loins were traditional only for the Japanese market where they are highly sought after, but it is the objective of both Fishes and AAFA to develop new markets. These loins are great to grill, eat as Sashimi or even throw on the BBQ.
The meat is tender yet succulent, and recommended only to be seared a few minutes each side. Due to the high oil content it is not a smelly fish and is great for all occasions.
This product is currently available in Europe, America and Japan, but we are happy to discuss any further possibilities
Cans
The American Albacore is also available in cans. This high quality canned tuna is available in two flavours; naturel and olive oil.Fishes also has canned wild Alaskan salmon and mackerel from Cornwall.
If you are a retailer looking for private label then we are more than happy to help put you in contact with some of the largest canneries in and out of Europe. It is the objective of Fishes and AAFA to get the American Albacore into as many retailers and wholesalers as possible. Fishes will act as the intermediate for only the initial communication but at all times can be called on for advice and support.
If you are a processor then this is a great fish to work with and due to the high quality and lack of bruising and blood spots some processors are reaching up to 50% yield.
Fishes would be happy to answer any questions or inquiries in regards to canning of tuna and finally more than happy to share its network.
Smoked
This is a new development for the European market, we are working with a UK processor and have developed the first cold smoked American Albacore that will be available from early 2009. The Albacore has great texture and taste, ideal for smoking with its high oil content. Although not yet on the market the initial response and feedback has been overwhelming.
We have been pleasantly surprised with the yields from this fish and have had no problems with becoming dry or falling apart. In the US they have produced a hot smoked loin which is selling in many retailers across the country.
For more information on the Fishes brand and also on possibilities of private label we are more than open to discuss.
Available
The American Albacore is available in the Fishes shops and in the following supermarkets and foodservices:
Albert Heijn, Super de Boer, C-1000, Jumbo, Dirk van den Broek, Sligro, De Kweker, Golff, Emté, Deen, Hanos, Casino Group, Metro MGB,and Migros.
For more information on the American Albacore, please contact Andrew Bassford,
Presskit
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