Dolphin Safe / Dolphin Friendly

The Dolphin Safe / Dolphin Friendly certification, administered by the Earth Island Institute's International Dolphin Safe Monitoring Program, verifies that tuna has been caught using methods that do not harm dolphins. To earn the label, tuna must be caught without intentionally chasing, netting, or encircling dolphins, without the use of drift gill nets, and without any accidental killing or serious injury to dolphins during net sets. Certified tuna must also be kept separate from non-certified tuna throughout processing and storage, and fishing trips in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean by larger vessels require an independent on-board observer to verify compliance.

The program was established in response to the large-scale dolphin mortality caused by purse-seine tuna fishing in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, where fishermen historically used dolphin schools to locate tuna. Earth Island Institute was instrumental in passing U.S. federal legislation in 1990 establishing the Dolphin Safe label, and today monitors more than 800 companies across 76 countries to ensure the integrity of the certification across global supply chains.

This certification is relevant to tuna fishing companies, processors, and brands selling canned or packaged tuna who want to demonstrate that their products meet dolphin protection standards. It is recognized internationally and covers a wide range of geographies, making it one of the most widely adopted marine product certifications in the world.