World Tuna Day

The United Nations (UN) established World Tuna Day on May 2nd to raise awareness of the importance of tuna and promote more sustainable fishing practices in 2017.

World Tuna Day is an annual celebration in order to highlight the importance of managing fish stocks for sustainability.

Some interesting truths about Tuna

More than 96 countries are involved in the conservation and management of tuna with an annual value of nearly 10 billion dollars. It is estimated that there is about 7 million tons of caught tuna and tuna-like species annually.

In many parts of the world, overfishing of certain species of tuna, such as the southern bluefin, has brought the species to near extinction.

The most common type of canned tuna is chunks, with light flesh in the water. Light meat (in water and oil) accounts for 75% to 80% of annual domestic canned tuna consumption. Meanwhile, albacore tuna, or white meat, makes up the rest.

Do you know the amazing fact that there are more than two dozen varieties of tuna with greatly differences in size? Blackfin tuna can be 3.5 feet long. Albacore tuna, 4.5 feet long. Atlantic bluefin tuna can grow up to about 15 ft. The tuna sample was 21 feet long and 1600 pounds in weight. Despite their large size, ocean tunas are agile swimmers. They can reach speeds between 44 and 62 miles per hour.

Tuna are unique among fish in their ability to maintain their body temperature above the temperature of the surrounding water, often 5 to 12°C above the surrounding water temperature (9 and 21, 7°F respectively).

Like many other fish, tuna's body color provides excellent camouflage in the water. The dark blue dorsal (dorsal) fin of the body of the tuna blends with the ocean floor when viewed from the air while the belly of the tuna is silvery white and it blends into the ocean surface when seeing from below.

History of World Tuna Day

Tuna is a type of the fish with a big consumed amount on the planet. When arriving any Western or developed country, let enjoy a tuna or tuna sandwich with baked potatoes. You can find it in cans in high-end markets in India. These fish are preserved with brine or other preservatives to keep them longer in the box. Tuna fish balls are quite popular in South Indian restaurants. It is eaten raw in Japan.

These fish are found in oceans around the world and in different sizes. The word "tuna" comes from the Ancient Greek word "Thunnus" which means "dart" or "to rush". This is a highly commercialized fish with high profit for fishermen. Moreover, its processing provides employment for many people. Fishermen can choose to sell these at the market or to large processing companies. And you can have it on your plate in a coffee shop or a restaurant.

There have been squabbles over tuna among fish-eating nations. However, there are some accusations of illegal fishing in the territory of other countries. Most companies in these countries signed contracts with fishermen to supply tuna for them; these fishermen go to the sea where the tuna is located. This could lead to the extinction of many of these fishes eventually.

Therefore, fisheries are being watched as another method to produce these fishes, but it is a much more expensive method than catching them from the sea. As the population grows, so does the demand for tuna. Several reports have been published with fishing recommendations but very few have been made.

The first time World Tuna Day was celebrated on May 2nd, 2017 in order to let the world know what tuna is and how important is it? Tomorrow is May 2nd again and this is the 5th time the world celebrates Tuna. Tuna is even more popular during the Corona Pandemic.

How to celebrate World Tuna Day

Follow on social media with #worldtunaday

Prepare a meal with tuna.

There are a lot of different ways to mix tuna into a heart-healthy diet. You can combine tuna with tomatoes, lettuce, cooked chickpeas, and boiled sliced ​​potatoes for a classic Niçoise salad. You can stir a can into a pot of cornstarch for a delicious tuna cracker. You can even make a delicious cold pasta salad with tomatoes, celery, canned beans, and black olives.

The most popular way in canned tuna preparation is to make a tuna salad.

Although delicious, the ingredients found in most recipes detract from many of the nutritional benefits of fish. To reduce the fat content of your tuna salad, replace the mayonnaise with a reduced-fat mayo or mix 30 percent mayonnaise with 70 percent plain yogurt for a fresh, slightly sour taste.

If you add tuna to your diet, you can get 5 grams of protein per ounce.

Tuna was found to be high in omega-3 fatty acids:

Omega-3 EPA (a fatty acid that inhibits cell inflammation)

Omega-3 DHA (a fatty acid is good for eyes and brain health)

The omega-3 fatty acids in tuna are effective in promoting good heart health. These essential fats can help lower blood triglycerides, reduce the risk of arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and slow the formation of plaque in the arteries.