WORLD TUNA DAY | May 2

(Last Updated On: May 1, 2023)

WORLD TUNA DAY

World Tuna Day is an annual celebration on May 2 that highlights the importance of managing fish stocks to maintain sustainability. By using World Tuna Day, we hope to encourage proper management so the world has systems in place to prevent tuna stocks from crashing.

#WORLDTUNADAY

More than 96 countries around the world participate in the conservation and management of tuna. In some parts of the world, over-fishing of some species, such as the southern bluefin tuna, has brought the species near-extinction.

The tuna industry has an annual value of almost $10 billion. In fact, approximately 7 million tons of tuna and tuna-like species are landed yearly. Besides industry use and consumption, overfishing and illegal tuna fishing contribute to a need for monitoring tuna stocks.

10 FUN FACTS ABOUT TUNA

1. The most popular kind of canned tuna is chunk, light meat in water.
2. Light meat (in water or oil) accounts for 75 to 80 percent of annual domestic tuna consumption.
3. There are more than two dozen varieties of tuna.
4. Blackfin Tuna can be 3.5 feet long.
5. Albacore tuna can be as long as 4.5 feet long.
6. Atlantic bluefin tuna can be up to about 15 ft.
7. The largest tuna specimen found was over 21 feet long and 1,600 pounds.
8. Tuna are swift swimmers and can reach a speed between 44 and 62 miles per hour.
9. Tuna has the ability to camouflage their skin to blend in with their ocean surrounding.
10. Tuna have a are unique ability to maintain a body temperature above that of the surrounding water.

A Heart Healthy Food

There are countless ways to incorporate tuna into a heart-healthy diet. You can combine tuna with tomatoes, salad greens, steamed green beans, and boiled sliced potatoes for a classic salad Niçoise. Stirring a can of tuna into a pot of corn chowder makes a delicious tuna bisque. You can also make a delicious cold pasta salad with tomatoes, celery, canned kidney beans, and black olives, and finally adding a can of tuna. The most popular way to prepare a can of tuna is by making tuna salad, complete with mayonnaise celery, pickles, cheese, and onion. YUM!

1. Adding tuna to your diet will give you 5 grams of protein per ounce.
2. Tuna has been found to be high in two types omega-3 fatty acids:
   • Omega-3 EPA, which is a fatty acid that inhibits cellular inflammation.
   • Omega-3 DHA, which is a fatty acid that promotes eye and brain health.
3. The omega-3 fatty acids found in tuna are known to promote good heart health by:
   • Helping decrease triglycerides in the blood.
   • Lowering the risk of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats).
   • Slowing the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Did you know?

1. All forms of tuna represent more than one-third of the total fish and seafood segment in the U.S., and more than half of the finfish segment.
2. Canned tuna is the second most popular seafood product in the U.S. after shrimp.
3. Americans eat about 1 billion pounds of canned and pouched tuna a year. Only coffee and sugar exceed canned tuna in sales.
4. In 2007, Americans ate 2.7 pounds of canned tuna per capita.
5. Unopened canned tuna has a recommended shelf-life of up to four years as long as the product has been stored under normal conditions and is not damaged. Pouched tuna has a shelf-life of three years.
6. Tuna is a carnivore, feeding on different types of fish, such as mackerel, herring, hake, squids, and crustaceans.

HISTORY BEHIND WORLD TUNA DAY

Industry groups observe May 2 as World Tuna Day. This is a special day for all who are involved in tuna fishing, tuna conservation, and management of tuna to celebrate the wonders of tuna. In 2017, the United Nations officially declared May 2, as World Tuna Day to focus on conserving the world’s tuna population.

Other Fishy National Days

• National Crawfish Day | April 17
• World Jellyfish Day | November 3
• National Fish and Chips Day | First Friday in June