Good Fish Guide
Your guide to sustainable seafood
You can play a key role in securing the future of our seas and marine wildlife by making more environmentally responsible choices when buying seafood.
Our seas face a wide range of threats - click to expand
Our seas face a wide range of threats. Climate change, pollution, habitat and biodiversity loss are all impacting our seas; plus 90% of global fish stocks are either fully or over-exploited. All these factors combined mean that urgent action is needed to restore the health of our seas. Fish farming (aquaculture) is rapidly expanding to meet increasing demand for seafood, but if this is done badly it can also damage the environment and exacerbate these other problems.
Use the Good Fish Guide to find out which fish are the most sustainable (Green rated), and which are the least sustainable (Red rated). Make the right choice and reduce your impact – every purchase matters! Find out more about our seafood work, including how we develop our seafood ratings, plus sustainable seafood recipes and more.
You searched for "tuna"
Tuna, albacore
Thunnus alalunga
Albacore are found throughout the world's temperate, sub-tropical and tropical oceans. They are a large species of tuna and grow more slowly than skipjack and yellowfin tuna which means they need to be well managed to prevent them from … Read more being overexploited. Most albacore stocks are in a fairly healthy state, but management needs to be most improved in the Indian Ocean. Most albacore are caught with longlines which continue to accidentally catch vulnerable species like seabirds, turtles and sharks. Whilst there are measures in use to reduce these impacts, more needs to be done to ensure theory are effective. There are similar concerns in pelagic trawl fisheries which target albacore in some areas. Pole and line or troll fisheries are the most selective and represent the best choice, and there are also some well managed longline fisheries that are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), so look for their blue ecolabel.
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Pacific, South and Central (FAO 81,87, 71,77)
Stock area — American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, High Seas, New Zealand
Stock detail — Certified fleets only
Certification — Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
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Capture method — Troll
Capture area — Pacific, South (FAO 81,87) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — South Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Troll
Capture area — Atlantic, North (FAO 21,27) and Central (FAO 31,34)
Stock area — North Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Troll
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — North Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — North Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Troll
Capture area — Atlantic, South (FAO 41,47)
Stock area — South Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Atlantic, South (FAO 41,47)
Stock area — South Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Atlantic, North (FAO 21,27) and Central (FAO 31,34)
Stock area — North Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Pelagic trawl
Capture area — Atlantic, North (FAO 21,27) and Central (FAO 31,34)
Stock area — North Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Pacific, South (FAO 81,87) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — South Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — North Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Atlantic, South (FAO 41,47)
Stock area — South Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Atlantic, North (FAO 21,27) and Central (FAO 31,34)
Stock area — North Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Tuna, Atlantic bluefin (Caught at sea)
Thunnus thynnus
Bluefin tunas are vulnerable, slow growing and long lived species that are heavily exploited across their range. The market value of individual fish regularly reaches tens of thousands of pounds with the record being over a million pounds … Read more for just one fish! This is a strong incentive for illegal fishing which has been extensive in the past. Management has improved, particularly for Atlantic and southern bluefin, but Pacific bluefin continues to be subject to heavy overfishing. Pacific bluefin remains at or near historical lowest levels; southern bluefin remains listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Atlantic bluefin is listed by the IUCN as Threatened in Europe and Endangered in the Mediterranean. As it is recovering quickly though, MCS is reviewing its rating for the Atlantic bluefin species.
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Capture method — All applicable methods
Capture area — North East Atlantic (FAO 27) and Mediterranean & Black Sea (FAO 37)
Stock area — East Atlantic & Mediterranean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Tuna, Atlantic bluefin (Farmed)
Thunnus thynnus
Bluefin tunas are vulnerable, slow growing and long lived species that are heavily exploited across their range. The market value of individual fish regularly reaches tens of thousands of pounds with the record being over a million pounds … Read more for just one fish! This is a strong incentive for illegal fishing which has been extensive in the past. Management has improved, particularly for Atlantic and southern bluefin, but Pacific bluefin continues to be subject to heavy overfishing. Pacific bluefin remains at or near historical lowest levels; southern bluefin remains listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN; and whilst Atlantic bluefin is recovering, it remains listed by the IUCN as Endangered. Farming or ranching of Bluefin tuna relies on capture of juvenile wild tunas for on-growing and fattening in open net cages until harvest. Therefore this process is completely reliant on overexploited wild fish stocks, and farming in this way will not lessen the pressure on the species. In the case of Mediterranean sea ranching operations, the capture of tuna for ongrowing is an increasing part of the catch. The ranching of tuna requires large amounts of fresh fish for feeding, with up to 20 kg of wild fish required to produce 1 kg of Bluefin Tuna resulting in a significant net loss if fish protein. Avoid all bluefin tunas.
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Production country — Mediterranean
Production method — Marine net pen, capture based aquaculture
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Tuna, Pacific bluefin
Thunnus orientalis
Bluefin tunas are vulnerable, slow growing and long lived species that are heavily exploited across their range. The market value of individual fish regularly reaches tens of thousands of pounds with the record being over a million pounds … Read more for just one fish! This is a strong incentive for illegal fishing which has been extensive in the past. Management has improved, particularly for Atlantic and southern bluefin, but Pacific bluefin continues to be subject to heavy overfishing. Pacific bluefin remains at or near historical lowest levels; southern bluefin remains listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Atlantic bluefin is listed by the IUCN as Threatened in Europe and Endangered in the Mediterranean. As it is recovering quickly though, MCS is reviewing its rating for the Atlantic bluefin species.
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Capture method — All applicable methods
Capture area — Pacific Ocean (FAO 61,67,71,77,81,87)
Stock area — Pacific Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Tuna, skipjack
Euthynnus pelamis, Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna is a smaller and faster growing tuna, and one the best choices out of the commercially targeted tuna species. Skipjack stocks worldwide are still in fairly good shape, but the increasing catch in some areas is concerning and … Read more management needs to be improved in most areas. Skipjack is mainly caught in large scale purse seine fisheries and is usually caught alongside yellowfin and bigeye tuna. To a lesser extent, skipjack is also caught in small scale pole and line and troll fisheries which are more selective and a good option. Several skipjack fisheries have also been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as sustainable, well managed fisheries, so look for their blue ecolabel on tuna products.
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Western and Central Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — The Republic of Maldives EEZ
Stock detail — Certified fleets only
Certification — Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Atlantic, Western (FAO 21,31,41)
Stock area — West Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line; Troll
Capture area — Pacific, Eastern Central (FAO 77), South, East (FAO 87) and West (FAO 81)
Stock area — Eastern Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Indian Ocean, Western (FAO 51) and Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line; Troll
Capture area — Atlantic, North (FAO 27), Central (FAO 34) and South (FAO 47) Eastern
Stock area — East Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (FAD associated)
Capture area — Atlantic, Western (FAO 21,31,41)
Stock area — West Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (FAD & Free School)
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Western and Central Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (FAD & Free School)
Capture area — Pacific, Eastern Central (FAO 77), South, East (FAO 87) and West (FAO 81)
Stock area — Eastern Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (FAD & Free School)
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (FAD & Free School)
Capture area — Atlantic, North (FAO 27), Central (FAO 34) and South (FAO 47) Eastern
Stock area — East Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Gill or fixed net
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Western and Central Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Gill or fixed net
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Tuna, southern bluefin (Caught at sea)
Thunnus maccoyii
Bluefin tunas are vulnerable, slow growing and long lived species that are heavily exploited across their range. The market value of individual fish regularly reaches tens of thousands of pounds with the record being over a million pounds … Read more for just one fish! This is a strong incentive for illegal fishing which has been extensive in the past. Management has improved, particularly for Atlantic and southern bluefin, but Pacific bluefin continues to be subject to heavy overfishing. Pacific bluefin remains at or near historical lowest levels; southern bluefin remains listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Atlantic bluefin is listed by the IUCN as Threatened in Europe and Endangered in the Mediterranean. As it is recovering quickly though, MCS is reviewing its rating for the Atlantic bluefin species.
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Capture method — All applicable methods
Capture area — Worldwide (FAO All Areas)
Stock area — Southern Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Tuna, yellowfin
Thunnus albacares
Yellowfin tuna is a large tuna species that is often sold as tuna steaks in the UK. Many stocks are doing well, but the Indian Ocean stock is overfished and catches remain far too high. Yellowfin is mainly caught in longline and purse … Read more seine fisheries. The accidental catch of vulnerable species like sharks is of concern in the longline fisheries. The catch rate of sharks and other vulnerable species in purse seine fisheries is low, but because the scale of these fisheries is so big, they can still have a large impact on these species. Purse seine fisheries can also catch a lot of juvenile tunas. Smaller scale pole & line, hand line and troll fisheries are more selective and a better choice. Some yellowfin fisheries are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as sustainable, well managed fisheries, so look for their blue ecolabel on tuna products.
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Capture method — Pole & line; Handline
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Philippines, Indo, PNG
Stock detail — Philippines, Indo, Vietnam, PNG EEZs
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Western and Central Pacific
Stock detail — Certified fleets only
Certification — Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Atlantic Ocean (FAO 21,27,31,34,41 and 47)
Stock area — Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (FAD & Free School)
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Western and Central Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Western and Central Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (FAD & Free School)
Capture area — Atlantic Ocean (FAO 21,27,31,34,41 and 47)
Stock area — Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Atlantic Ocean (FAO 21,27,31,34,41 and 47)
Stock area — Atlantic
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (FAD & Free School)
Capture area — Pacific, Eastern Central (FAO 77), South, East (FAO 87) and West (FAO 81)
Stock area — Eastern Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (tuna-dolphin association)
Capture area — Pacific, Eastern Central (FAO 77), South, East (FAO 87) and West (FAO 81)
Stock area — Eastern Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Troll
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Pacific, Eastern Central (FAO 77), South, East (FAO 87) and West (FAO 81)
Stock area — Eastern Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Handline
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (FAD & Free School)
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — Comoros, France and oversees territories, Italy (flag), Kenya, Mayotte, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Spain (flag), United Republic of Tanzania
Certification — FIP Stage 4. Click here for info on FIPs
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — Sri Lanka FIP participants only
Certification — FIP Stage 4. Click here for info on FIP
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Capture method — Gill or fixed net
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Western and Central Pacific
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Purse seine (FAD & Free School)
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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Capture method — Gill or fixed net
Capture area — Indian Ocean: Western (FAO 51), Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — Indian Ocean
Stock detail — All Areas
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