If it says "Department of Commerce", It is a Dolphin Death Certificate! |
DO NOT BUY TUNA WITH THIS COMMERCE DEPARTMENT LABEL!
The U.S. Commerce Department has released a new, official "dolphin
safe" mark for tuna labels which will seriously weaken the current
dolphin-safe standards and promises to mislead consumers.
Although the Department of Commerce's new dolphin-safe logo has
been rejected by all the leading U.S. tuna companies, it still could appear on supermarket shelves within the next several months.
Leading tuna producers and retailers, including the largest tuna
companies in the world, have pledged to follow a true dolphin-safe standard in which no dolphins are encircled in the purse seine nets during the entire fishing trip (see attached list).
But the Commerce Dept., bowing to trade pressure from Mexican tuna
millionaires and in order to avoid sanctions from the World Trade
Organization (WTO), has weakened the standards for the "dolphin safe" mark.
Under the Commerce Dept. regulations, dolphins may be chased, harassed, netted, and even injured and killed while catching tuna, as long as an on-board observer does not see dolphins killed or "seriously injured" while capturing the tuna. Furthermore, dolphin-deadly tuna and this phony "dolphin safe" tuna can be mixed aboard the vessel, encouraging cheating and rendering "dolphin safe" meaningless. Consumers will not be able to tell if the tuna they are buying is "dolphin safe" or not, caught by netting and harming dolphins. The lucrative U.S. tuna market will act as an incentive for the chasing and killing of tens of thousands of dolphins.
Earth Island Institute has begun to warn consumers that ANY canned
tuna that is carrying this Department of Commerce "dolphin safe" label mark (see illustration above) is a dolphin DEATH CERTIFICATE.
Consumers can ensure the protection of dolphins by looking for tuna sold by the companies who have pledged to buy only truly "dolphin safe" tuna, e.g. tuna caught without chasing and netting of dolphins. These companies subscribe to independent monitoring of their activities to ensure that their tuna is caught without any harm or harassment to dolphins.
Dolphin Safe Companies
The following companies have pledged to buy and sell only "dolphin
safe" tuna caught without using deadly nets on dolphins (e.g.
non-encirclement). Other companies are welcome to join in the pledge.
Earth Island Institute, Humane Society of the U.S., and other organizations are working to ensure that only truly "dolphin safe" tuna is sold in U.S. stores, restaurants, and institutions.
Tuna Processors and Major Brands
- StarKist Tuna
- Bumble Bee Tuna
- Chicken of the Sea Tuna
- Kawasho International (U.S.A.) Inc. (Geisha Brand)
- Mitsubishi International Corp. Tuna
Supermarkets and Grocery Stores
- Safeway Stores
- IGA Stores
- Disco Stores
- A & P Stores
- Albertsons, Inc.
- Publix Super Markets Inc.
- Schultz Sav-o Stores Inc. (Piggly Wiggly Stores)
Restaurants and Food Service
- Subway, Inc.
- Walt Disney Company
- Garden Fresh Restaurants
- Long John Silver Restaurants
- Darden Restaurants (The Olive Garden)
- CKE Restaurants, Inc. (Carl's Junior)
- Beverly Hills Cafe
- Sovereign Hotels, Inc.
- Auto Diner and Hot N Fast
VIDEO AVAILABLE: Broadcast quality video footage by Samuel LaBudde
of the devastating effects of tuna nets on dolphins is available by calling Earth Island (415) 788-3666.
For further information, contact Earth Island Institute's
International Marine Mammal Project, (415) 788-3666 or
marinemammal@earthisland.org.
