P.M. BRIEFING : Bumble Bee Lays Off 800, Cites Expense of ‘Dolphin-Safe’ Tuna

Bumble Bee Seafoods Inc. said it will lay off 800 workers in its Puerto Rican cannery, in part because of the rising costs of producing dolphin-safe tuna.

The company said it will cease production during the second shift at its facility in Mayaguez, the world’s largest albacore cannery.

The plant will continue operation with its 1,000 remaining workers. Department of Labor officials will assist laid-off workers, and a job center is being established to provide employment counseling at the site, Bumble Bee representatives said.

Bumble Bee, the third-largest U.S. tuna canner, announced with other major canners in April that it was phasing out tuna caught using fishing techniques that also catch dolphins.