Do you love tuna? You are not alone as tuna is among the world’s favorite fish. In tuna sandwiches, salads, curries, sushi and as toppings for pizzas, most of us have enjoyed tuna.
Tuna doesn’t just taste great, it is good for health as well. Tuna is a good source of “healthy fats” including DHA & EPA, the most beneficial Omega-3, an essential fatty acid that our body cannot produce. Omega-3 may help to prevent coronary heart disease, promote healthy nerve activity, improve vitamin absorption, maintain a healthy immune system and promote cell development. Omega 3 is also important in the development of vision and brain among children.
Among Pacific Islands and particularly Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) members that control the world’s largest sustainable skipjack tuna fishery, tuna is a primary source of revenue for governments and a key part of food security for island populations.
Wild tuna populations are found in large schools making them an ideal catch for commercial fishing vessels, and putting them in danger of being overfished.
To increase the probability that future generations will enjoy the taste, health and economic benefits of this incredible fish, beginning this year, May 2nd will be internationally recognized as World Tuna Day to highlight the vital socio-economic importance of this widely consumed fish to people around the world. As proclaimed by the United Nations’ General Assembly, World Tuna Day will signify the world body’s commitment to raise global awareness of ‘tuna’s critical role’ in the food security and economic livelihood of many countries and of the ‘serious threats’ facing its long-term sustainability.
No other fish species has a globally recognized day.
In conjunction with World Tuna Day, Ayam Brand™ one of the leading providers of sustainably fished canned tuna providers has some simple tips to help more people get the great taste and good health of tuna, while helping countries that depend on sustainable tuna fishing.
Know Your Tuna
Skipjack tuna is not overfished and found in abundance in global seas. Skipjack is a small tuna with short lifespans as well as rapid growth and reproduction rates, making them resilient to fishing pressure.
To make a difference towards tuna sustainability, Ayam Brand™ recommends purchasing tuna species that are not endangered and from biomass that is healthy (not overfished). Ayam Brand™ canned tuna products mainly use skipjack tuna.
Tuna In The Right Location
Location plays a vital role in tuna sustainability. Tuna stocks in one particular area may be close to collapse while otherwise in other areas. Yellowfin tuna is overfished in the Indian Ocean but it is in abundance in the Pacific. The yellowfin and skipjack tuna that go into Ayam Brand™ canned tuna products are caught in the Pacific Ocean, in areas assessed by Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO)as not overfished.
Below purchasing your favourite tuna, Ayam Brand™ recommends some tips to enlighten the consumers to choose the right tuna that is right for its sustainability and empowerment of small fishing communities.
Catch It Right
Pole and line as well as handline are traditional fishing methods that are both socially and environmentally friendly. Using ‘one man, one hook, one fish’ methods, fish are caught one at a time. These methods require many skilled fishers, which prevent overfishing of tuna, and keep fishermen employed. These methods also ensure the tuna supply is protected, while protecting other species such as sharks, whales, dolphins and turtles that can get caught up in net fishing.
Look for ‘pole and line’ or ‘handline caught’ on the label when choosing your tuna, and take comfort in knowing that it was fished from a sustainable source and that you are supporting small fishing communities.
Ayam Brand™ Marketing Manager, Mr. Nicholas Nyeow, said that the brand fully supports World Tuna Day as an initiative to make people more aware and appreciative of the food they consume, while promoting more sustainable and environmentally friendly fishing practices.
“Too often we take our food for granted. World Tuna Day helps us appreciate that while tuna is tasty and healthy, it needs to be fished sustainably to ensure that future generations can enjoy it, and that the communities that depend on it as their main source of livelihood are protected. Ayam Brand™ is proud to support World Tuna Day and to share tips on making more sustainable tuna choices,” said Mr. Nyeow.
For more information on Ayam Brand™, please visit http://www.ayambrand.com.my/about-us/sustainability