51³Ô¹Ï

Fresh Tuna catch
As migratory tuna species account for 20 per cent of the value of all marine capture fisheries and over eight per cent of all globally traded seafood,
Photo:Engin_Akyurt / Pixabay

Is your tuna sustainable?

Canned tuna has been a great ally in our pantries during the pandemic. But, regardless of the market exceptionalities caused by the pandemic, we cannot ignore that, for a long time, this product has been a victim of its nutritional success. Tuna is rich in Omega-3 and it also contains minerals, proteins, and vitamin B12, among other advantages.

As a result of the amazing qualities of tuna, the fish are threatened by overwhelming demand. According to the latest data, among the seven principal tuna species, 33.3 percent of the stocks are estimated to be fished at biologically unsustainable levels

That is why in December 2016, the 51³Ô¹Ï General Assembly to officially observe World Tuna Day.

The move underlines the importance of conservation management to ensure that we have systems in place to prevent tuna stocks from crashing. Many countries depend heavily on tuna resources for food security and nutrition, economic development, employment, government revenue, livelihoods, culture, and recreation.

FAO logo and tuna

Sustainable tuna fishing by 2027

FAO¡¯S Common Oceans Tuna project aims to ensure that all major tuna stocks are fished at sustainable levels by 2027. This ambitious goal is part of its efforts towards more sustainable tuna fishing and biodiversity conservation. From 2014-2019, the helped reduce the number of tuna stocks experiencing overfishing from 13 to 5.

An overview of the situation

More than 7 million metric tons of tuna and tuna-like species are harvested yearly. These migratory tuna species account for 20 percent of the value of all marine capture fisheries and over 8 percent of all globally traded seafood. With that information in mind, we need to recognize the critical role of tuna in sustainable development, food security, economic opportunity, and the livelihoods of people around the world. Stopping overfishing is of vital importance. Yet, the notes that market demand for tuna is still high and that the significant overcapacity of tuna fishing fleets remains.

Addressing the decline in tuna stocks resulting from overfishing in the world¡¯s oceans, the UN Legal Counsel emphasizes the critical importance of effectively implementing the international legal framework, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, widely known as UNCLOS, which has been strengthened by the for Sustainable Fishery, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement, recommendations of its Review Conference, annual General Assembly resolutions on sustainable fisheries, as well as other efforts by the international community at the global, regional and national levels.

At present, over 96 countries are involved in the conservation and management of tuna, which has an annual value of almost 10 billion USD, and some FAO have started giving positive results in reducing overfishing.

Let's be optimistic about the tuna of tomorrow.

Did you know?

  • Tuna and tuna-like species include approximately 40 species occurring in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Tuna species account for 20 percent of the value of all marine capture fisheries and over eight percent of all globally traded seafood.
  • In 2017, among the seven principal tuna species, 33.3 percent of the stocks were estimated to be fished at biologically unsustainable levels.

Related links

Established in 1984, GLOBEFISH is a multi-donor funded project within the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department responsible for providing up-to-date trade and market on fish and fishery products. GLOBEFISH promotes and facilitates information exchange among the seafood industry, governments, academia and stakeholders worldwide. Check it out for more information related to tuna market. 

 

"Without sustainable fisheries, tuna will be lost to history. I¡¯m taking these steps now to ensure our children and grandchildren can still enjoy tuna", says Umar. This traditional fisherman in Indonesia has been fishing for over 15 years. He starts his day at 4:30 in the morning, catching the squid bait he needs to attract tuna. His small-scale Indonesian tuna fishery became the first in the country to hold Fairtrade and MSC, two certifications for sustainable fishing practices. 

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the 51³Ô¹Ï, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.