Tuna: What to Buy, Think About and Avoid

According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, here’s what you should look for—and what you should skip—when buying tuna. 

Best choice

Buy first; they’re well-managed or caught or farmed responsibly

• Albacore (Trolls, pole and lines)
• Skipjack (Pacific trolls, pole and lines)

Good Alternatives

Buy, but be aware there are concerns with how they’re caught, farmed or managed

• Albacore (U.S. longlines)
• Skipjack (Free school, imported trolls, pole and lines, U.S. longlines)
• Yellowfin (Free school, trolls, pole and lines, U.S. longlines)

Avoid

Take a pass on these for now; they’re overfished, lack strong management or are caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment

• Albacore (Imported except trolls, pole and lines)
• Atlantic Bluefin (Imported loglines)
• Pacific and Southern Bluefin
• Skipjack (imported purse seines)
• Yellowfin (imported longlines, except U.S.)