STATEMENT
UN CELEBRATES FIRST EVER WORLD TUNA DAY
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 2 May 2017 – The celebration for the first time by the United Nations of World Tuna Day on 2 May is an important step in recognizing the critical role of tuna to sustainable development, food security, economic opportunity, and livelihoods of people around the world. Highly migratory tuna species account for 20% of the value of all marine capture fisheries, and over 8% of all internationally traded seafood. They play a key role to ensuring a healthy and robust marine ecosystem. Nearly two-thirds of the tuna found in restaurants and supermarkets around the world comes from the Pacific Ocean, hence the Pacific SIDS playing an active role on this initiative. World Tuna day provides a key opportunity to discuss solutions to ensure increased economic benefits to SIDS and LDCs from the sustainable use of marine resources and in addressing the challenges that are affecting tuna stocks.
Regrettably with the decline in the health of the Ocean, the fish stocks including tuna face growing threats and an uncertain future. The celebration of World Tuna Day a month away from the Ocean Conference to be held from 5 to 9 June 2017 at UN Headquarters is a good opportunity to highlight the importance of reversing the decline in the health of the Ocean to ensure sustainable management of marine life, such as tuna, that we are so dependent on. In support of World Tuna Day, I urge all Governments, cities, businesses and civil society organizations to take action. A tangible way of doing so is to register voluntary commitments on The Ocean Conference Website in order to support those working for the conservation and sustainable management of the Ocean’s resources.
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Media contact
Dan Thomas, Communications Director and Spokesperson of the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 917 225 1913 | daniel.thomas@un.org
@UN_PGA
#SaveOurOcean
#WorldTunaDay