Tracing the Origins: Where is Rio Mare Tuna Caught?

Tuna remains one of the most popular and commonly consumed types of fish around the world. And when it comes to tuna, Rio Mare stands as a leading brand, especially in Europe. But with consumers becoming more concerned about the origins and sustainability of their food, a common question arises – where exactly is Rio Mare tuna caught?

In this article we’ll explore the various fishing zones and methods used to catch the tuna in Rio Mare cans. We’ll also look at how the company’s commitment to traceability and sustainable practices ensures high-quality and ethical sourcing of their tuna.

An Overview of Rio Mare Tuna

Rio Mare has been producing high-quality canned tuna in Italy since the 1920s. The brand offers a variety of tuna products like chunks in olive oil or vegetable broth, fillets, and whole tuna steak. They also produce specialty flavored tuna like lemon & pepper or Mediterranean style.

Rio Mare prides itself on using only premium skipjack, yellowfin, and albacore tuna species for its products. This commitment to quality has made it a leading tuna brand, especially in Europe where it originated in Italy.

In addition to great taste, Rio Mare also emphasizes traceability and sustainability in its tuna sourcing and production. Let’s look closer at exactly where this tuna comes from.

Fishing Zones Spanning Multiple Oceans

Rio Mare sources its tuna from fishing zones across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. This includes areas like the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, and other waters around the world.

By diversifying the ocean regions and methods for catching their tuna, Rio Mare is able to maintain a flexible, reliable supply chain If environmental or regulatory conditions change in one fishery, they can rely on other zones to avoid disruption

Some specific fishing methods used include:

• Pole and line or handline fishing – Used extensively in the Solomon Islands fishery to catch skipjack tuna. This method is selective and prevents bycatch of other species.

• Purse seine nets – Involves encircling schools of tuna with large nets that are drawn closed like a purse. Rio Mare avoids purse seine methods that use controversial FADs (fish aggregating devices).

• Longlines – Long horizontal fishing lines with baited hooks attached to catch larger tuna like albacore. Must be strictly monitored to avoid bycatch.

Rigorous Traceability from Ocean to Shelf

In addition to diverse sourcing, Rio Mare also employs an advanced traceability system to track the full journey of its tuna from the exact fishing area to the final packaged product.

This system digitally tracks information like:

• Fishing vessel name, registration, and flag state

• Date and geolocation of catch

• Fishing method used

• Processing facility where tuna was canned

• Batch details for the final packaged product

By leveraging data mapping and digitized records, Rio Mare can provide consumers with full transparency about the origins of the tuna in every can. This traceability has earned Rio Mare important certifications like ISO 22005 for their food supply tracking system.

Commitment to Sustainable Fishing Practices

Rio Mare prides itself on responsible fishing and environmental stewardship when sourcing tuna. They partner with groups like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) to sponsor ocean conservation initiatives.

Some of their sustainability commitments include:

• Supporting funding of protected marine habitats and ocean clean-up projects

• Adhering to Dolphin Safe fishing standards to avoid bycatch of dolphins

• Implementing fishing gear modifications like the “hopper” device to safely release unwanted catch

• Aiming for 100% of tuna to come from MSC certified fisheries by 2024

Rigorous Quality Control

To ensure their tuna meets flavor and freshness standards, Rio Mare has controls in place from catch to canning.

They use trusted suppliers who follow designated fishing methods and deliver tuna of optimal size and quality. Once caught, the tuna is promptly processed and cooked just once before canning in Italy.

In the canning facilities, technologies like visual inspection, weight control, and sensory evaluations identify any cans that don’t meet requirements before packaging. This commitment to quality is how Rio Mare guarantees delicious and fresh tasting tuna every time.

Looking Ahead to Further Sustainability

Rio Mare continues to evaluate how it can improve sustainability and traceability in its supply chain. Goals for the future include:

• Increasing tuna sourced from selective fishing like pole and line to 50% by 2020

• Reducing plastic packaging by 30% by 2025

• Eliminating supply vessels that deploy FADs

• Expanding access to digital traceability information for consumers

As concerns grow about overfishing and marine ecosystem health, Rio Mare aims to provide leadership in ethical and sustainable tuna sourcing practices.

So next time you grab a Rio Mare tuna fillet or chunk in olive oil from the shelf, you can feel confident it came from a responsible source backed by traceability. Rio Mare provides assurance that great taste and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.