U.S. TUNA TRACKING AND VERIFICATION
PROGRAM
The NOAA Fisheries Service Tuna Tracking & Verification Program
(TTVP) is the only program recognized by the U.S. Government that legally satisfies all
applicable federal regulations regarding dolphin-safe certification. The TTVP monitors the
domestic production and legal importation of all frozen and processed tuna products
nationwide and authenticates any associated dolphin-safe claim.
For tuna products caught in the ETP by large purse
seine vessels, both the international and the U.S. tracking programs rely on IATTC
observer records made onboard the vessel. Set by set information is recorded by each
observer on Tuna Tracking Forms.
The United States’ legal definition of the term
"dolphin-safe" is as follows: no tuna were caught on the trip in which such tuna
were harvested using a purse seine net intentionally deployed on or to encircle dolphins,
and that no dolphins were killed or seriously injured during the sets in which the tuna
were caught.
The AIDCP legal definition of the term "dolphin-safe" is
that no dolphins were killed or injured in the set in which the tuna was harvested. Under
the AIDCP Program, purse seine vessels are allowed to set their nets on dolphins; however,
if any dolphins are killed or seriously injured that set may not be designated as
"dolphin-safe." This difference has
been brought about due to recent federal litigation:
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