World Tuna Day

Minister,

Excellencies,

Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

1. Congratulations to you all as we celebrate this 1st UN-recognized World Tuna Day.
2. We welcome this opportunity to engage with Member States.
3. Overall, tuna contributes significantly to food and nutrition security, economic development and employment.
4. Just a couple of figures:

• In some of regions, fish contributes a significant source of animal protein to people’s diets, from around 25% to more than 40% in some small island developing states.
• The Pacific region produces about three quarters of the world’s canned tuna - a low cost source of protein for many consumers.
• Total tuna-related employment continues to grow, including in the processing sector which is made up by a majority of women – up to 90% in the Pacific.

1. Yet this resource blessing carries great responsibilities.
2. Last year, it was estimated that nearly 25% of the major commercially important tuna stocks by volume of catches needed urgent and stronger management.
3. In this context, the five tuna regional fisheries management organizations (t-RFMOs) and their member countries must ensure that stocks are maintained at sustainable levels or, if already depleted, can be rebuilt.
4. This calls for both reliable scientific information and an effective strategy of measures to regulate the fishery and control negative ecological impacts associated with fishing activities  
5. The small-scale sector, where compliance and data collection systems are less efficient, requires special attention, particularly in developing coastal States.
6. We must meet management and governance challenges. In this context, the multi-partner Common Oceans programme led by FAO comprises a major tuna project working across 90 countries and focusing on the ecosystem approach to fisheries, combatting IUU fishing and reducing environmental impacts of tuna fishing.
7. From piloting electronic observer systems on vessels to helping implement the FAO Port States Measures Agreement, the project has netted scalable and replicable results to promote the sustainable management of tuna fisheries and biodiversity conservation.

 

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

1. We cannot speak meaningfully about tuna fisheries without discussing SIDS.
2. FAO places great importance in its work on SIDS.
3. We were mandated to facilitate a food security and nutrition programme as part of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action or S.A.M.O.A Pathway.
4. In response, we are working closely with partners to develop the Global Action Programme on Food Security and Nutrition (or GAP) in SIDS.
5. The GAP will be endorsed by the SIDS leaders during the 40th FAO Conference in Rome in July.
6. We will continue to work closely at regional and country level to support implementation and monitor results, not just for realizing the S.A.M.O.A Pathway, but also to achieve the SDGs.
7. From the upcoming 1^st meeting of the parties to the Port State Measures Agreement later this month to the SDG14 Ocean Conference, let’s bridge opportunities to further strengthen our relationship and build and promote solid partnerships to improve global food security in SIDS while sustainably managing precious natural resources. 
8.  On that note, I have the pleasure to invite you all to participate in a high-level SIDS event at our upcoming Conference in Rome in July.
9. On World Tuna Day, let’s make sure that the largest and most valuable oceanic fishery on the planet can continue to contribute to global food security, economies and cultures.

Thank you.