Every year on May 2nd, World Tuna Day is commemorated to raise public awareness of tuna fish and sustainable fishing practices. The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2016 to promote the preservation of tuna fish.

Tuna is high in Omega-3, minerals, proteins, and vitamin B12, among other nutrients. However, the super fish is a victim of its own extraordinary traits and nutritious properties, which are threatened by the human population’s enormous appetite.

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According to the United Nations, 33.3 % of the stocks of the seven major tuna species are being consumed at biologically unsustainable levels.

History of World Tune Day:

Overfishing and illegal fishing have reduced the number of tuna fish by more than 97% in recent years. To prevent Tuna from becoming extinct, the UN declared a special day and urged people to conserve Tuna. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly established May 2 as World Tuna Day in order to raise public awareness about the need of safeguarding tuna fish.

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The UN Legal Counsel has emphasised the crucial importance of effective implementation of the international legal framework, as expressed in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The resolution stated that the oceans are home to thousands of tuna fishing vessels and that tuna fisheries capacity in the Indian and Pacific oceans is still expanding.

Significance of World Tuna Day:

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and environmental groups have cautioned the fisheries that tuna is listed as an endangered species. This day aims to raise awareness about tuna overfishing and the necessity of preserving the ecology and the food chain.

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Tuna are warm-blooded fish that can be found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. Every year, more than 7 million metric tonnes of tuna and tuna-like species are caught. Tuna species account for 20% of the value of all sea-captured fisheries goods and more than 8% of all globally sold seafood.