Fair Trade Tuna Maldives​

Skipjack Tuna is one of the most abundant fish species and sustains some of the largest fisheries worldwide. Skipjack feed on small fish, shrimp and squid and gather in large schools. Being the key raw material for the canned tuna industry, Skipjack Tuna is a highly commoditized seafood item.

Single-hook, small-scale tuna fishing is at the heart of many coastal communities around the world. The continuous industrialization of the global tuna sector drives these traditional, low-impact fisheries into a struggle of survival. Blueyou’s Fair Trade program helps differentiating such fisheries on global markets.

In the Maldives, pole & line is the only gear allowed to catch Skipjack Tuna. Since centuries, local island communities have been catching Skipjack Tuna sustainably for local subsistence and commercial trade.

Pole and line tuna fishing is the most selective and sustainable way of catching smaller tuna species such as Skipjack. Fishermen use a single line attached to a pole, equipped with a barbless hook.

Most tuna caught globally is transferred to Asia for canning. Not so in Blueyou’s Fair Trade Program: Here, freshly caught tuna is landed at the jetty of the local cannery for processing. As there is nothing else than MSC certified pole & line tuna landed, the supply chain is clean and as direct as possible.

Canning tuna offers more value to the local economy in the Maldives and sustains job opportunities and livelihoods for hundreds of workers. Blueyou’s Fair Trade program aims at scaling-up the volume of locally caught and processed tuna – contributing to a more resilient economy in remote island communities.

Pole and line fishing is a way of life. It means being in tune with the rhythm of our oceans, appreciating the efforts it takes to harvest wild and healthy seafood sustainably! Blueyou’s Fair Trade program recognizes these traditions - and creates an identity for fishing communities on global markets!

Climate change, rising sea levels, degraded coral reefs and dwindling stocks of tuna: Maldivian island communities face many challenges brought on them by the industrialized outside world. Blueyou’s Fair Trade program is mitigating some of these negative impacts and supports communities in becoming more resilient and self-sufficient.

Like many other island nations, the Maldives have been struggling with managing plastic waste. Blueyou’s Fair Trade is investing into the cleaning-up of affected islands and the installation of proper waste collection and recycling stations.

Plastic bottled water is a key concern in the Maldives. By decision of the fishing communities, Fair Trade premiums have been invested into water purifiers on all catch vessels as well as in improved drinking water stations on participating island communities.