World Tuna Day
The United Nations established World Tuna Day on May 2 to raise awareness about the importance of tuna and to promote more sustainable fishing practices. It is observed for the first time in 2017. According to UN, several countries in the world depend upon tuna for both food security and nutrition. Let us tell you that more than 80 countries have tuna fisheries and their capacity is also growing constantly. In December 2016 the United Nations General Assembly officially voted to observe the Day in its resolution 71/124. No doubt this movement will underline the importance of conservation management to ensure that they have systems to prevent stocks of tuna from crashing. There are several countries that depend upon tuna resources for food security and nutrition, economic development, employment, livelihood, culture etc. On 2 May, 2017 the first internationally World Tuna Day was recognized.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization notes that market demand for tuna is still high, and that the significant overcapacity of tuna fishing fleets remains. In its latest report from 2018, FAO registered that combined catches of tuna and tuna-like species levelled off at around 7.5 million tonnes in 2016 after an all-time maximum in 2014 (7.7 million tonnes). Even with that small reduction, there is still a need for effective management to restore the overfished stocks including tuna.
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 Code of Conduct 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.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Do you know that. Tuna measures by Length: 6.5 feet and by Weight: 550 pounds.
Do you know that Tuna is a large fish. Bluefin can swim up to 35 mph in short bursts. To reduce drag and accelerate the swimming speed, tuna is able to change the position of its dorsal and pectoral fins. Tuna can swim near the surface or can dive to the depth of 3000 feet while it searches for food. The average life span of tuna is between 15 and 30 years in the wild. Dorsal side of the tuna's body is dark blue and it blends with the ocean floor when observed from the air. Belly of tuna is silver-white and it blends with the surface of the ocean when observed from below.
Do you know that Tuna are species of fish and are economically very important. It is also a significant source of food. Approximately 40 species occur in Atlantic, Indian, Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Such type of remarkable fish can jump high out of the water, they are warm-blooded. For the protection from sharks, they also team up with the Dolphins.
Do you know that these fishes are threatened due to increase in wo main products drive the production of tuna that is traditional canned tuna and sashim or sushi. In terms of species utilised, quality requirements and production systems, these products demonstrate relevant differences. In the canned market, light meat species that is skipjack and yellowfin are dominant whereas in the sushi and sashmi market, the fatty tuna of bluefin and other red meat species are preferred.
Do you know that approx 7 million tonnes of tuna like species are landed yearly? Migratory tuna species account for 20 percent of the value of marine capture fisheries and around 8 percent of all globally traded seafood that is why World Tuna Day is observed by United Nations to recognise the importance of tuna species around the world.
Therefore, we can say that World Tuna Day is observed on 2 May every year to highlight the importance of tuna fish to the marine ecosystem and the global economy.
Between 2014 to 2019, the number of major tuna stocks experiencing overfishing went down from 13 to five. To make this happen, the Common Oceans ABNJ Program brought together scientists and fishery managers to develop sustainable and transparent tuna harvest strategies and processes based on computer simulation exercises. Learn more about the programe.
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.
Relevant programs of the U.N.Food and Agriculture Agency Organization.