FIA PNG Animal Welfare Commitment – a step forward in the Tuna Industry

There is increasing momentum among policymakers, industry leaders, and public opinion, highlighting the urgent need to address the welfare of wild-caught tuna. FIA PNG is conscious of supporting research and ensuring animal welfare requirements are in place, and moved ahead with policy and strategy implementation beyond a simple commitment.

In 2024, our FIA PNG board decided to commit to Animal Welfare for both the tuna fishing operation and the lobster catching operation. FIA PNG members are committed to following and respecting the Five Freedoms for animals under human control:

1. Freedom from hunger or thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour;

2. Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment, including shelter and a comfortable resting area;

3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment;

4. Freedom to express (most) normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind;

5. Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

6. 
   

The public commitment on the FIA PNG website: https://www.fia-png.com/_files/ugd/872bdb_f2ef9ff864bf4d88a22f40b447300ab3.pdf

Policy and Strategic Plan:

Our Sustainable team, led by Marcelo Hidalgo, carried out a literature review and developed a comprehensive and robust Animal Welfare Policy and Strategic Plan, which was published and shared in August 2024.

This document outlines the approach, controls, project development, and engagement processes for the good practices of Animal Welfare in FIA PNG MSC fisheries certification.

• Communicate awareness for animal welfare across FIA PNG members and seafood supply chains, foster openness amongst suppliers, clients, and other stakeholders, and initiate discussions and create interest and commitment for improvements and change;

• Engage in partnerships and actively work on improvements and research with our fisheries members (Tuna and Lobster), also with Skippers, technology providers, local authorities, animal welfare organisations, and scientific institutions;

• Support and joint research and development in areas of need, specifically in terms of existing challenges for catchers – any gear type and killing or slaughter method – and implement improved practices;

• Based on science and monitoring, set up minimal performance standards and implement improved practices, whenever technically realistic and economically feasible, to comply with the Animal Welfare principles;

Moving towards collaboration

Since November 2024, our COO has actively joined the Catch Welfare Platform, an NGO based in the Netherlands, to collaborate and find solutions for the capturing and slaughtering of Tuna fish as well as Lobster in the PNG fisheries.

Recognitions

On 18 February 2025, Aquatic Life Institute with based in New York, United States, published the first-ever New Tuna Welfare Guide.

Aquatic Life Institute, on its website, mentions that, in 2024, an EU Parliament Resolution called for animal welfare guidance in the next Common Fisheries Policy, while key industry actors like Blueyou and the FIA PNG are leading the way, having already adopted tuna welfare policies. With 91% of Europeans supporting fish welfare on par with other farmed animals, tuna welfare policies can help companies improve transparency and meet evolving public demands. Tuna welfare is not just a moral imperative; it’s a strategic priority for sustainable success.

For our Fishing Industry Association and our members, this is an honour and also a motivation to move forward supporting research, but also improving practices in the slaughtering of our Tuna Fish onboard. We thank and recognise the importance of Animal Welfare and the excellent work that both Aquatic Life Institute and Catch Welfare Platform are doing in this space to guide and support the Tuna Industry.