The Dinko difference: sustainable Australian Bluefin Tuna

Our founder, Dinko Lukin, knew there was a way to protect the species and our oceans while allowing future generations to enjoy the delights of the world’s most sought-after and decadent fish.

Dinko’s method of tuna ‘catching and ranching’, where only a select number of fish are kept in captivity to grow and mature before harvest, not only reduces the number of fish taken from the ocean but improves the quality of the fish that are harvested.

While in captivity, the fish feed on a rich, natural diet that allows them to mature and grow, while increasing the fishermen’s quota, as the limit on their catch is determined by the weight of the fish caught in the wild.

This ingenious method has been crucial to restoring the Southern Bluefin Tuna population in South Australia and is now the internationally accepted method for Bluefin Tuna farming. The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) has confirmed that the latest data indicates a strong recovery of the wild population of Southern Bluefin Tuna, and it is now a sustainable fishery, with stocks growing yearly.

By minimising cell damage we maintain culinary integrity, with the tuna retaining perfect texture, colour and flavour so that consumers can enjoy the famed delicacy all year round.

Dinko Seafoods is also one of the few Australian seafood suppliers that has a membership to the Earth Island Institute Dolphin Safe Tuna program. Since the program launched in 1990, dolphin deaths in tuna nets have reduced by 99%. And we are proud to be part of driving that change in keeping dolphins safe in the tuna farming process. As a member of the Dolphin Safe program, our equipment, procedures and policies must pass annual assessment by the Earth Island Institute.