If you're an RGF member, you may have noticed a familiar species making its way into some of your seafood pickups and deliveries this year. Some of you even reached out to ask us to explain why we included it when it's been something we've been asked to avoid in recent times. Transparency is essential to us, so we'd love to explain further. We know Bluefin tuna is not exactly a species synonymous with sustainable seafood. Still, with all things, the seafood world is ever-evolving, and things are looking up in the bluefin world here along the West Coast of the United States. We wanted to give you a more in-depth look at the information we have and additional details about the Bluefin Tuna catch we've been sharing with our members, specifically. 

It's GOOD News! Pacific Bluefin Are Rebuilding

First, from a resource standpoint, Pacific Blue (Thunnus Orientalis) stocks are rebuilding from overfishing. There are twice as many Pacific bluefins now than in 2010, meaning our efforts in rebuilding the stock are working. This means that you can feel good about occasionally eating Bluefin tuna and enjoying it for the delicacy it is. If you'd like to dig into the stock assessment from the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission from 2020, please send us an email to member@realgoodfish.com. 

Where You Source Your tuna Is Most Important

We consider this a part of our overarching brand ethos here at Real Good Fish but knowing where your fish and seafood are caught (and by whom) is always of the utmost importance. It's also good to recognize that there are distinct stocks of Bluefin worldwide managed by different regional management bodies and with specific stock levels. Many of the reports citing the vulnerability of stocks are from older data, so it's wise to look at the date of the documents when assessing this information. We're constantly looking at the numbers being gathered from our local area and around the world as well. 

While It's Surely a Delicacy, Eat It in Moderation

Like most things in life, moderation is key. We don't support eating Bluefin all the time. In fact, we don't recommend any diet with too much of one species! Enjoying a portion a few times a year is sustainable and worthy of celebration and appreciation of small boat US fishermen working in conjunction with policymakers and conservation groups to ensure stocks are healthy and continue to build for a long time to come. So next time you see Bluefin come as a surprise or bonus in your seafood share or home delivery, know that we're honoring the incredible species that it is, along with the crew who worked hard to bring it in for us to enjoy. 

Click here for more information on our sustainability efforts and the species we are landing.