World Tuna Day 2026 Highlights Pakistan’s Challenges and Opportunities in Global Fisheries Governance

ISLAMABAD: World Tuna Day 2026 is being observed globally on May 2 to highlight the ecological, economic and nutritional importance of tuna and to promote sustainable management of global tuna fisheries.

The day was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2016 through Resolution 71/124, amid growing concerns over overfishing, illegal fishing practices and the need for science-based conservation of highly migratory marine species.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global production of tuna and tuna-like species exceeds 5 million tonnes annually, making tuna one of the world’s most commercially valuable marine resources. Tuna fisheries play a major role in global food security, coastal livelihoods and international seafood trade.

As tuna migrates across international waters and exclusive economic zones, sustainable management requires coordinated global governance mechanisms. This has strengthened the role of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), particularly the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which oversees tuna fisheries across the Indian Ocean region.

Established under the FAO framework in 1993 and operational since 1996, the IOTC is responsible for fisheries data collection, stock assessments and conservation measures aimed at maintaining sustainable tuna stocks. The organization’s Scientific Committee evaluates fisheries data submitted by member states and shapes regional fishing policies based on scientific evidence.

Experts say the modern fisheries governance system increasingly rewards countries with strong scientific participation, transparent reporting systems and compliance mechanisms rather than simply geographic access to marine resources.

Countries such as Indonesia, Maldives and Seychelles have emerged as leading examples of effective fisheries governance. Indonesia operates one of the world’s largest tuna industries, while Maldives has developed a premium sustainable tuna export market through pole-and-line fishing. Seychelles has strengthened oversight through advanced vessel monitoring systems and marine spatial planning.

Pakistan, despite being a coastal state along the Arabian Sea, continues to face structural challenges in developing its tuna sector. The country’s annual marine fisheries production is estimated between 0.5 and 0.7 million tonnes, with tuna forming an important but underdeveloped segment of the fisheries economy.

In July 2025, Pakistan secured a tuna quota from the IOTC totaling 25,000 metric tonnes, including 15,000 tonnes of Yellowfin tuna and 10,000 tonnes of Skipjack tuna. The quota is expected to support exports and encourage sustainable fisheries management.

However, Pakistan’s allocation remains significantly lower than quotas granted to major regional players such as Indonesia, the European Union and Maldives. Analysts attribute this gap to limited industrial fishing capacity, weak fisheries data systems, low participation in scientific processes and underdeveloped offshore infrastructure.

Pakistan’s fisheries sector remains largely coastal and artisanal, with Karachi serving as the primary fisheries hub, while strategic coastal regions such as Gwadar and Pasni remain underutilized.

The country’s fisheries governance framework involves the Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MoMA), Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) and National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA), which collectively oversee policy coordination, monitoring and research.

Experts emphasize that Pakistan must modernize its fisheries governance structure to improve its standing in the global tuna economy. Key priorities include upgrading fisheries data systems, expanding vessel monitoring and traceability mechanisms, investing in offshore fishing fleets, strengthening cold-chain infrastructure and increasing participation in IOTC scientific working groups.

Development of fisheries hubs in Gwadar and Pasni is also being viewed as essential for unlocking the sector’s long-term economic potential.

Observers note that World Tuna Day now symbolizes a broader shift in global ocean governance — from resource extraction toward science-driven and compliance-based management systems.

Analysts say Pakistan’s future influence in the Indian Ocean fisheries economy will depend not on geographic proximity to the sea, but on its ability to strengthen scientific capacity, institutional coordination and sustainable fisheries governance.