Little Tuna wins MSC Best Sustainable Seafood Brand 2026, highlighting growing demand for Australian sustainable seafood
Cairns based seafood company Little Tuna have been named MSC Best Sustainable Seafood Brand 2026 at the Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia, presented by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Determined by public vote, Little Tuna was voted ahead of some of the largest and most established seafood brands in the Australian market. As the only Australian caught, owned and made brand in the category, the result sends a strong signal that consumers are actively choosing independently certified, traceable Australian tuna.
For founders Kate and Rowan Lamason, the result is both a brand milestone and a signal for the broader Australian tuna industry.
Founded in 2015, Little Tuna has built a national presence from Far North Queensland, now stocked in more than 500 stores across Australia, by connecting consumers directly with Australian fishing families and championing transparency from boat to plate.
The Little Tuna range, including its more recently launched East Coast Tuna Co. line, has been developed to make Australian tuna more accessible, offering both premium and everyday options while maintaining the same commitment to Australian caught tuna, traceability and responsible sourcing.
“This recognition reflects what Australian consumers are increasingly looking for which is tuna that is responsibly sourced, independently certified and fully traceable,” said co-founder Kate Lamason.
The Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia are run by the Marine Stewardship Council and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and recognise organisations contributing to the long-term sustainability of seafood and the health of marine environments.
Anne Gabriel, MSC Program Director for Oceania and Singapore, said the result reflects the growing strength of Australian seafood brands.
“Little Tuna’s win highlights the strength and potential of Australian seafood brands. As a proudly Australian caught, owned and made brand, they are showing that local products, backed by independent certification and traceability, resonate strongly with consumers.”
“In the bigger picture, brands like Little Tuna and the winners recognised this year contribute to long-term food security and support the livelihoods of fishing communities, ensuring seafood remains a viable and responsible food source for generations to come. Worthy of celebration.”
Little Tuna works alongside MSC-certified fishers who are members of Tuna Australia, representing an industry operating under strict environmental standards and science-based management.
Australian tuna fisheries are supported by strict quotas, vessel monitoring systems, onboard electronic camera monitoring, detailed reporting requirements and ongoing independent verification, ensuring sustainability outcomes are credible, transparent and continuously assessed.
These systems underpin the strength of the sector, with Tuna Australia members producing tuna and billfish that are sustainable, traceable and high quality, independently verified through MSC certification.
“This reflects the strength of the Australian tuna industry and the people behind it,” Lamason said.
“Our fishers take enormous pride in producing high-quality seafood that meets rigorous sustainability standards. Through Little Tuna, including our East Coast Tuna Co. range, we’ve worked hard to bring that story to consumers in a way they can see, trust and be proud of.”
The Lamason family has been part of the North Queensland tuna industry for more than three decades, helping pioneer tuna fishing in the region. Through Little Tuna, that legacy has evolved into an innovative consumer brand focused on premium product, sustainability and transparency.
The business has become nationally recognised for connecting consumers directly to the people behind their seafood, including through QR-enabled storytelling that allows customers to learn more about the fishery, the fishers and where their tuna comes from.
Little Tuna also operates Australia’s only MSC-certified cannery and remains the only cannery in the country producing wild-caught tinned tuna, contributing to regional jobs, local manufacturing and sovereign capability in seafood processing.
The award follows recent recognition at the QSMA Queensland Seafood Industry Awards, where Little Tuna received the Promotion Award for its leadership in consumer communication and transparency.
At a time when sustainability claims are under increasing scrutiny, independent, science-based certification is becoming more important across global seafood supply chains.
With Australians consuming hundreds of millions of tins of tuna each year, the result highlights a growing opportunity for Australian caught, certified sustainable tuna in the domestic market.
“This reflects a broader shift,” Lamason said.
“When consumers are given access to sustainable, traceable Australian tuna, they actively choose it. This award is a strong signal that they want to see more of Little Tuna and East Coast Tuna Co our on shelves.”
For Little Tuna, the result reinforces both the strength of the Australian tuna industry and the growing demand for local, sustainable seafood.
