GVI Amazon says ‘No’ to tuna

For the past few years here we have always supplemented, our otherwise totally vegetarian diet, with a weekly tuna meal. Having tuna once a week is a treat for volunteers (and staff!), and is convenient, however is not the most environmental friendly activity.

Tuna fishing is not a very sustainable industry due to its role in global fish stock depletion and the amount of fishery bycatch caught in long lines (which can include dolphins, sea turtles, other fish, and even seabirds as albatrosses).

After a little discussion, it is for these reasons that GVI Amazon has decided to boycott tuna, making a decisive action and choice from this expedition not to support this unsustainable industry.

But fear-not, meat-lovers. In the place of tuna we now buy locally produced, free-ranging “happy chicken” from our local communities every few weeks. What’s more is the chickens are bought alive, so all the volunteers can have the opportunity to get involved in learning how to properly (and fully) prepare a chicken ready to eat, which also teaches a valuable lesson on understanding our food comes from first hand. It also allows us another avenue to support our local communities. So far chicken has been a great success and some excellent meals produced.

Jasmine Rowe – GVI Amazon Base Manager

GVI Amazon says ‘No’ to tuna