PURPOSE: The World Tuna Day is observed on 2 May to Address 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. From raising awareness to taking action or simply enjoying sustainable tuna, there's plenty you can do to take part this World Tuna Day. Together, we're on a mission to end overfishing - a major global goal enshrined within the United Nations sustainable development goals.
FORUM: “Highlighting the importance of sustainably managed fish stocks in achieving the 2030 Agenda.” World Tuna Day 2024. For tuna populations to thrive, fisheries need robust management, effective enforcement, and reductions in catching unwanted or endangered species or bycatch. Between 2014 and now, the number of major tuna stocks experiencing overfishing went down from 13 to five. A new project developed 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 Common Oceans Tuna project helped reduce the number of tuna stocks experiencing overfishing from 13 to 5. 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; Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #2May, #WorldTunaDay, #BigBlueFuture, #sustainabletuna, #sustainablysourcedseafood.
EVENTS: On May 2nd; The FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Organizations with sustainability claims on tuna, the Tuna fishing industries and the Environmental Groups or NGO’s involved within the tuna sector will hold a webinar to celebrate World Tuna Day 2024 at FAO Headquarters in Rome.
Get the list of RFMO’s upcoming events: IOTC Meetings, ICCAT Meetings, IATC Meetings and the WCPSC Meetings.
PODCASTS: Many problems in tuna fisheries research and management are in the global scale. Therefore, it is more efficient and effective to deal with them on that scale, while the tuna fishery bodies have a regional scope. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Experts say that countries will need to continue working together in adopting evidence-based solutions in the tuna sector. These should focus on sustainable fishing methods that reduce the environmental impact and minimise bycatch. Consumers can also do their part in protecting tuna by ensuring the tuna they buy is sustainable. YES WE CAN!. We need to conserve our wonderful tuna resources for future generations. Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE OBSERVE THE DAY?
The World Tuna Day is observed on 2 May to Address the decline in tuna stocks resulting from overfishing in the world’s oceans. FAO has been active particularly the collation, analysis, synthesis and dissemination of:
• data on tuna catches and
• information on tuna fisheries research, the status of the associated stocks, fisheries, markets, trade and fisheries management. As a result, the data and other information on the tuna taxonomy, ecology, fisheries, farming, catches, stock status and fisheries management have been collated on the global scale, analysed and synthesized. They are disseminated to fisheries scientists, managers, fishing and processing industry, governments, other international organizations and the public at large.
ACTIONS
FAO supplements activities of tuna fishery bodies, other regional international and national institutions involved in tuna fisheries research, management and trade of these species. Because of their regional and national competence, FAO plays a global role in:
• the collation, analysis, synthesis and dissemination of data and other information on the species and
• the resolution of global problems in fisheries research and management. • Transforming aquatic food systems for better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life. Explore the guide on the Blue Transformation: A roadmap to sustainability.
Learn about the Global Tuna Catches by Stock; The Global Atlas of Tuna and Tuna-like species; The Global Capture Production.
PARTNERS
The World Tuna Day is co-hosted by the FAO Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture; The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT); The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC); The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM); The Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs); The Tuna Regional Fishery Management Organization [T-RFMO]; The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and many others.