World Tuna Day is observed on 2 May and is established by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness about the importance of tuna fish.
The day aims to spread information about the possible impact of drastically declining tuna stocks. The day also highlights the economic and social benefits of establishing more sustainable fishing practices.
The World Tuna Day aims to stress the importance of a stable and healthy tuna population. It also shows the importance of sustainably managed fish stocks in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Tuna is a saltwater fish. It belongs to the Thunnin tribe. Tuna are found in warm seas. It can maintain a body temperature higher than that of the surrounding water. The fish has a life span of 50 years.
In December 2016, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed resolution 71/124 and designated the observation of the day on 2 May. It is observed for the first time in 2017. The UN report stated that a large number of countries worldwide depend on tuna for both food security and nutrition. It also stated that more than 80 countries have tuna fisheries, and their capacity is constantly growing.
Environmental groups like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have warned that some types of tuna, such as the bluefin, are now endangered because of overfishing.