Every May 2, the United Nations marks World Tuna Day to recognize how much this fish matters — both on our plates and in the ocean. Tuna is one of the most widely eaten fish on the planet, a major source of protein and income for coastal communities worldwide. That popularity is exactly why the day exists: heavy demand has put pressure on some tuna stocks, and the UN uses this date to push for management that keeps tuna around for the long haul.
Why tuna gets its own day
The UN General Assembly formally established World Tuna Day, first observed in 2017, to raise awareness about the value of tuna and the importance of sustainably managed fisheries. Tuna migrate across vast stretches of open ocean, crossing national boundaries, which makes them tricky to protect. No single country can manage them alone, so the day highlights the need for cooperation between nations, fishers, and buyers. Some species and regional stocks are healthy; others have been fished harder than they can recover from. The point isn’t to make you feel guilty for eating tuna — it’s to help you eat it in a way that lasts.
Knowing your tuna
Not all tuna is the same. Skipjack is small, fast-growing, and usually sold as “light” tuna; it tends to be the more resilient choice. Albacore is the “white” tuna in cans. Bigeye and bluefin are larger, slower to mature, and far more sensitive to overfishing — bluefin in particular has faced serious population declines. Fishing method matters as much as species: pole-and-line and FAD-free fishing generally catch fewer unintended animals like sharks and turtles than purse-seine nets set around fish aggregating devices.
The best tuna choice is one that’s abundant, caught cleanly, and honestly labeled.
Ways to mark the day
You don’t need a boat to take part. Cook something good with tuna — a seared steak, a proper Niçoise salad, or homemade maki rolls. When you shop, spend an extra thirty seconds reading the can: look for the species, the catch method, and a credible certification like the MSC blue label. If you eat tuna often, check a guide such as Seafood Watch to see how your usual brand rates, and consider switching if it scores poorly.
A quick word on health
Tuna is rich in lean protein and omega-3 fats, but bigger tuna also accumulate more mercury. Smaller skipjack (“light” tuna) is lower in mercury than albacore or bigeye. If you’re pregnant, nursing, or feeding small children, lean toward light tuna and reasonable portions, and check the free FDA/EPA fish advice chart for specifics.
World Tuna Day is a reminder that a cheap, familiar pantry staple is also a wild animal pulled from a shared ocean. Eating it thoughtfully — the right species, caught the right way — is a small choice that, multiplied across millions of shoppers, genuinely helps keep tuna on the menu for the next generation.
How to celebrate
- 1Read the can label
Flip your tuna can and look for a species and catch method. 'Pole-and-line' or 'FAD-free' caught skipjack generally has less bycatch than purse-seine with fish aggregating devices. Certifications like MSC (blue label) or a Dolphin Safe mark are quick signals worth checking.
- 2Cook a tuna dinner
Turn canned tuna into something better than a sad sandwich: fold it with white beans, olive oil, lemon and parsley for a Mediterranean bowl. For fresh steaks, pat dry, salt, and sear 60-90 seconds a side over high heat so the center stays rare. Overcooking tuna makes it dry and chalky, so pull it early.
- 3Choose lower-mercury options
Larger, longer-lived tuna like bigeye and albacore carry more mercury than small skipjack ('light' tuna). If you're pregnant or feeding young kids, favor canned light tuna and keep servings modest. The FDA and EPA publish a free fish-advice chart you can check by species.
- 4Learn where yours comes from
Pick one brand you buy and look up its sustainability rating on Seafood Watch or Greenpeace's tuna guide. Note the ocean region and fishing method on the label. Buying from boats that avoid overfished stocks and reduce bycatch is the single most useful thing an eater can do today.