Walker’s Tuna and Little Tuna take honours at MSC Sustainable Seafood Awards 2026
At the 2026 MSC Sustainable Seafood Awards 2026, Australia’s tuna industry was in the spotlight, with Walker's Tuna and Little Tuna each recognised for their commitment to sustainable seafood.
Walker’s Tuna was awarded Best Sustainable Seafood Product 2026 for its preserved Australian Albacore Tuna 3kg pouches, and Little Tuna was voted Best Sustainable Seafood Brand 2026.
The awards, hosted by the Marine Stewardship Council, celebrate leadership in sustainable fishing and responsible seafood supply chains.
Walker’s Tuna co-owner Heidi Walker said being recognised was an honour.
“Sustainable fishing is critical to preserving our oceans for future generations and is something we take great pride in our commitment towards.”
The award highlights the company’s dedication to creating value-added products using wild-caught Australian tuna.
The Walker’s Tuna product range was launched in 2024 by Walker Seafoods Australia, a family-owned business operating since 2002.
“We started with retail, but launching the 3kg food service format has opened us up to chefs in a much bigger way,” she said.
“We are offering a scalable solution for kitchens seeking both quality and provenance.”
For Little Tuna owners Rowan and Kate Lamason, the win represents something bigger than a single accolade.
“It’s a shift towards Australian caught seafood, independent, science-based sustainability and full traceability from boat to plate,” they said.
“We’re proud to work alongside MSC-certified fishers who are members of Tuna Australia, supporting an industry doing things properly.”
Founded in 2015, Little Tuna has grown from a company based in far North Queensland to a national presence across more than 500 stores, connecting consumers with fishing families.
“For us, this has never just been about tuna,” they said.
“Through Little Tuna, including our East Coast Tuna Co. range, it’s about fishing families, trust, transparency and building something people feel proud to be part of.”
David Ellis, CEO of Tuna Australia, said the awards highlight the strength of Australia’s tuna sector.
“These dual wins reinforce that tuna and billfish caught by Tuna Australia members meet rigorous, science-based sustainability standards while delivering premium quality seafood,” he said.
Our fishers take enormous pride in producing seafood that is sustainable, traceable and high-quality.
“Australians can have confidence that locally caught tuna from Tuna Australia members represents the very best of responsible fishing.”