The United Nations (UN) established World Tuna Day on May 2 to raise promote more sustainable fishing practices of Tuna and its importance to many economies around the world. It was observed for the first time in 2017. I am sure many of us have enjoyed Tuna whether it be from a tin in a sandwich, Sushi, or my favourite Tuna Tartare which brings many happy memories of my time on Easter Island. But as lovely as Tuna is they are being over fished.
The world takes nearly 7 million tonnes of tuna every year. Its contribution to the economies of many developing nations is often seen as critical. At the same time, more than 80 countries have tuna fisheries, and their capacity is constantly growing including 8 countries within the EU, whilst Tuna stocks are dwindling rapidly. In fact, Bluefin stocks in the Northern Pacific Ocean have declined by more than 96% in comparison to unfished levels of 2013.
It is illegal for British fishermen to catch Tuna, even though they are being seen more and more around the UK. If they do accidentally get caught they have to be released back to the wild alive and unharmed.
They are a warm-blooded, saltwater fish that travel in large schools. They jump high out of the water like dolphins and you often see them together as a protection from sharks.
Promoting Sustainable Tuna Fishing
With so many countries around the world relying on tuna for both its nutritional and economic value, World Tuna Day, first observed on May 2, 2017, is an effort to stress the importance of a stable and healthy tuna population. In practice, the event aims to spread information about the possible impact of drastically declining tuna stocks and to highlight the economic and social benefits of establishing more sustainable fishing practices.
Info Fish Tuna 21
This year the conference will be virtual thus making it much easier for people to participate. It has been transformed into a fully interactive online experience with easy access to both the conference and the exhibition and will be available for 20 days after the event. For more information see http://tuna.infofish.org