Many countries depend heavily on tuna resources for food security and nutrition, economic development, employment, government revenue, livelihoods, culture, and recreation.

As large predators in the ocean, tuna can weigh up to 600 kilograms. In order to keep swimming, its muscles contain a large amount of myoglobin, which gives tuna meat a distinctive dark red color and a meaty aroma. Among them, bluefin tuna, which enjoys the reputation of "blue diamond ", is the largest tuna in the world. Unlike most other tunas, which prefer warmer waters, bluefin tuna generally prefers relatively deep, cooler waters, diving to depths in excess of 4,000 feet. As a result, they store more fat as a source of energy and to keep warm. The taste of bluefin tuna makes it one of the supreme fish. But due to bluefin tuna's slow growth, combined with persistent overfishing and illegal fishing, its population has dramatically declined over years.

In order to protect bluefin tuna and promote the sustainable development of marine resources, starting from 2017, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) set June 12th as Bluefin Tuna Day to advance global conservation efforts for bluefin tuna. This year marks the seventh Bluefin Tuna Day.

Bluefin tuna includes Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, and Southern Bluefin Tuna.

Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Credit:Baidu

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Credit: IUCN Redlist

Being the popular delicacy in the market, bluefin tuna has been harvested illegally or without regulation driven by high prices, and their population has declined sharply. At present, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Southern Bluefin Tuna as Endangered Species (EN).

Credit: IUCN Redlist

CBCGDF has made unremitting efforts to protect bluefin tuna. On June 12, 2017, CBCGDF successfully pushed one of the domestic e-commerce platforms to remove the bluefin tuna from its shelves, resulting the establishment of Bluefin Tuna Day, which aims to strengthen public awareness of this endangered marine species, and raise public awareness of its protection. In July of the same year, CBCGDF sent letters to the relevant suppliers of Australian bluefin tuna products and the Australian Department of Fisheries, stating in detail the importance and necessity of protecting rare and endangered species, asking them to jointly promote the protection of the rare and endangered species, and suggesting reducing the products of this endangered species.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations notes that market demand for tuna is still high and that the significant overcapacity of tuna fishing fleets remains. On the occasion of the seventh Bluefin Tuna Day, CBCGDF once again calls on all sectors of society to pay more attention to bluefin tuna and jointly promote the protection of bluefin tuna and the sustainable development of the ocean.

Original Chinese Article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/gZRS5PUWTYti_mWJBmddIA

Translator: Sara

Checked by: Daisy

Editor: Sara    

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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