Baja Aqua Farms breaks silence with world-first tuna ranch report
Salmon farms? Sure, they’ve had sustainability reports for years. But tuna ranches? Nothing but crickets—until now.
Baja Aqua Farms just dropped the first-ever sustainability report from a Pacific bluefin tuna ranch. And they didn’t hold back. It’s got transparency, tech, tuna behavior charts—and even a Tuna Shocker. No joke.
Five freedoms, zero fishy business
The farm follows the five internationally recognized animal freedoms. Not for show, but because healthy tuna make tastier tuna. They’re aiming for higher survival rates and better product quality. It’s ethical. It’s smart. It works.
Algae? Not on their watch
In late 2024, two nasty blooms of harmful microalgae crashed the party. These sudden outbreaks mess with oxygen levels and can suffocate fish. Baja Aqua’s crew didn’t panic. They hit the emergency protocol and evacuated the farm fast.
This wasn’t luck—it was training. The team checks ocean conditions 24/7. Every 15 minutes, sensors measure oxygen, temperature, and currents at multiple depths. They also take four phytoplankton samples a day to spot toxic microalgae early. If numbers rise? Boom—contingency mode activated.
A simple chart tells the team when to go from green to red alert. It even tracks tuna behavior: from “hungry and speedy” to “swimming weird and starving.”
Gentle harvest, Japanese style
Harvesting starts with a Tuna Shocker (yes, it’s a real thing). Then comes the Ikejime method, a precise, painless technique that prevents stress and preserves flavor. No bruising. No panic. No yake—that rubbery texture that ruins good sashimi.
All harvesting happens by daylight, under calm ocean conditions. Fish go straight into chilled seawater at 0°C. No delays. No shortcuts.
No GMOs, no exceptions
The farm follows strict rules from Mexico’s National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA), the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), and the National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INAPESCA). These agencies regulate wild tuna capture and say: no GMOs allowed. Baja Aqua Farms listens.
Chill tanks, traceable tuna
Each tuna is tracked from sea to table. They store the harvest in tanks chilled to –0.5 °C using a custom-built chiller. It’s all about keeping it fresh, safe, and sushi-ready.
This isn’t just a fish tale. Baja Aqua Farms raised the bar. Now, let’s see who swims up next.
