World Tuna Day

Since the onset of large-scale commercial exploitation in the 1950s, global tuna catches have steadily risen, reaching 1 million tonnes in the mid-1960s, 2 million tonnes in the mid-1980s, 3 million tonnes in 1990, 4 million tonnes in the late 1990s, 5 million tonnes in 2014, and finally topping out at 5.4 million tonnes in 2019. The global tuna catch has been stable at around 5 million tonnes since then. In 2023, the latest available data, the global tuna catch was approximately 5.2 million tonnes. The majority of tuna catches are attributed to skipjack tuna (57 percent), followed by yellowfin tuna (31 percent), bigeye tuna (7 percent), albacore tuna (4 percent), and three species of bluefin tuna (1 percent). In terms of fishing methods, purse seining accounts for 66 percent of global tuna catches, while longlines (9 percent), pole-and-line (7 percent), gillnets (4 percent) and other miscellaneous gea...

The island nations of the central Pacific don't have much land. But they have an awful lot of ocean - and a precious resource within it. Read the full story!

In the past, rising global demand for tuna put growing pressure on fisheries. In regions where management systems were fragmented or insufficient, this led to overfishing of some tuna stocks. However, since the United Nations General Assembly designated May 2nd as World Tuna Day nine years ago to highlight the importance of responsible tuna fishing , significant progress has been made: In 2017, only 75% of the tuna catch came from healthy stocks free of overfishing; Today, it is estimated that 99% of commercial tuna catches come from stocks that are scientifically assessed to be biologically sustainable. For instance, Atlantic Bluefin tuna, once absent, are now common again in southern England and Ireland. This recovery is thanks to coordinated efforts by governments through the five tuna regional fisheries management organizations . Their success stems from adopting management procedures. These are rules agreed upon by scientists, managers, and fishers before fishing begins. It i...

The FAO's  Common Oceans Tuna project aims to ensure that all major tuna stocks are fished at sustainable levels by 2027 , supporting more responsible tuna fisheries and biodiversity conservation . The project has developed a new e-learning course series : Management procedures for sustainable tuna fisheries and stepped up training to meet growing demand for capacity-building, as adoption of management procedures expands worldwide. It also promotes innovative electronic monitoring and traceability systems , alongside more eco friendly fishing practices . The data is encouraging. Out of the 23 tuna stocks, only two stocks are still subject to overfishing according to the latest numbers.

However, vigilance remains essential . The 2023 UNCLOS Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (‘the BBNJ’) entered into force in January 2026, giving impetus to global efforts to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. Still, challenges persist. Climate change affects tuna reproduction and pushes them farther out to sea, raising costs and threatening coastal livelihoods in often poor coastal communities. Specific reproductive details vary by species, such as the southern bluefin tuna which may spawn on average every 1.1 days, or the yellowfin tuna which often shows a peak spawning period between September and December in the tropical Western and Central Pacific The reproductive dynamics of the southern blue- fin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) in the Atlantic Ocean The reproductive biology of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the pacific Ocean . Scientific knowledge on eastern bluefin tuna reproduction and reproductive areas. The reproductive biology...

Canned tuna has been a great ally in our pantries around the world. Tuna is rich in Omega-3 and it also contains minerals, proteins, and vitamin B12, among other advantages.  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 UN sustainable development goals . Three things you can do this World Tuna Day... Cook a sustainable tuna recipe Check your cans of tuna Read a tuna fishing story

FORUM : " Tuna Done Right " World Tuna Day 2026 . The MSC's theme for World Tuna Day is Tuna Done Right. Even though World Tuna Day is a global day to protect tuna, there's plenty that can be done locally to support sustainable tuna. Tuna is one of the most widely consumed seafoods in Australia and New Zealand. Choosing sustainably sourced options like those with the MSC blue fish tick is a simple way to support healthy oceans. In Australia and New Zealand, we can enjoy a range of MSC certified sustainable tuna from Skipjack, Albacore and Yellowfin. Over half of the world's skipjack tuna is caught in the Western Central Pacific Ocean and tuna is also caught in Australian and New Zealand waters. We need to conserve our wonderful tuna resources for future generations. Get involved in the conversation with #WorldTunaDay and #BigBlueFuture for the chance to have your post shared to our networks. GET INVOLVED! Cook a sustainable tuna recipe : Celebrate with a dish that...

 Since the adoption of the first tuna management procedure in 2011, tuna RFMOs have embraced MSE and management procedures as a management approach to rebuild, first and when needed, and then maintain sustainable tuna stocks and fisheries .  The following illustrates the development of management procedures by tuna RFMOs . Precautionary management procedures are indispensable tools for achieving sustainable tuna fisheries . MSE provides a rigorous framework for testing management procedures before implementation, reducing risks and enhancing decision-making . Precautionary management procedures ensure that fishing limits are based on scientific evidence, safeguarding stocks from overexploitation . While challenges remain, continued investment in these approaches will be critical in securing the long-term health of global tuna fisheries.

  The integration of MSE and harvest strategies is critical in addressing the challenges of modern fisheries management . These tools help mitigate risks associated with overfishing , climate change and economic uncertainties by providing a structured, science-driven and adaptive approach to decisionmaking .  Additionally, they foster international cooperation , as many fish stocks , particularly tuna, are highly migratory and require coordination among multiple nations.   By adopting MSE and robust management procedures , fisheries managers can enhance stock sustainability , maintain economic and viable fisheries, and ensure that marine ecosystems continue to thrive for future generations

   Tuna fisheries play a crucial role in global seafood production, providing food security, employment and economic value to many coastal nations. However, growing concerns related to unsustainable fishing, climate change, ecosystem impacts and mismanagement necessitate robust management approaches. Management strategy evaluation (MSE) and precautionary management procedures have emerged as a key tool for ensuring sustainable tuna stocks while balancing economic and ecological objectives. MSE tested management procedures for tunas have recently become an improved management tool in rebuilding tuna stocks and ensuring their long-term sustainability. MSE is a simulation-based framework that allows fisheries managers and stakeholders to test and evaluate the performance of different management options against pre-agreed management objectives before implementation. This process accounts for uncertainties in stock assessments, biological and environmental variability, as well as m...

  Globally, the seven major commercial oceanic tuna species are assessed and managed as 23 distinct stocks by the five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs): CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC and WCPFC. These stocks include six albacore, four bigeye, four bluefin, five skipjack, and four yellowfin tuna stocks. The global tuna catch has remained stable at around 5 million tonnes in recent years. In 2023, the total catch was approximately 5.2 million tonnes, a figure similar to the previous year. Skipjack tuna accounted for the largest share (57 percent), followed by yellowfin tuna (31 percent), bigeye tuna (7 percent), albacore tuna (4 percent), and the three bluefin tuna species collectively contributing just 1 percent of the total catch. From a stock perspective, based on the most recent stock status adopted by tuna RFMOs, 16 out of the 23 assessed tuna stocks are not overfished, and overfishing is not occurring. Additionally, five sto...

  Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) is assessed and managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT). Practically all of the catches are made in the IOTC, ICCAT and WCPFC convention areas (62 percent in the Indian Ocean, 25 percent in the Pacific Ocean and 13 percent in the Atlantic Ocean). Southern bluefin tuna catches in 2023 were approximately 17 300 tonnes, reflecting a 1 percent increase from 2022. Catches rose sharply from the beginning of the fishery around 1950, reaching a record high of 81 000 tonnes in 1961. However, they then declined continuously until 2011, when the lowest recorded catch of 9 459 tonnes was reported (FIGURE E.1.19). Since then, catches have been gradually increasing to the current level of 17 300 tonnes, largely due to strict catch limits established under the Southern Bluefin Tuna Management Procedure. This procedure, initially known as the “Bali Procedure” (adopted in ...

  About 23 percent of the world’s tuna production comes from the Indian Ocean (IO) – FAO Major Fishing Areas 51 and 57–making it the second most important region for tuna fishing after the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. Catches of skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore tuna in 2023 totaled approximately 1 237 000 tonnes, a 1 percent decrease from 2022. The total catch generally declined after 2005, when a record 1.25 million tonnes were caught, followed by an increase in recent years which has brought catches back to 2005 levels (FIGURE E.1.16). Catches of southern bluefin tuna occur primarily in the IO Area of Competence. However, due to their distribution across three oceans, this stock is covered below under a separate section on the CCSBT convention area. The catch of tropical tunas and albacore tuna in the IO steadily increased, reaching 200 000 tonnes in the early 1980s. It then rose rapidly to 500 000 tonnes in 19...