The name “tuna” covers 14 species belonging to 4 different genera(Auxis, Katsuwonus, Euthynnus, Thunnus), which are found in almost all the seas of the world. This large family of fish is of major economic importance in a fully globalised economy.
A growing global catch
In 65 years, the world’s tuna catch has increased by 1, %, from 500,000 to 5 million tonnes, and demand could reach nearly 8 million tonnes by 2025! In terms of export value of seafood products, tuna is in4th place, behind shrimp, salmon and white fish.
At the end of the chain, the value at sale is estimated at 33 billion dollars (i.e. 24% of the world seafood industry). The average per capita consumption of tuna in 2007 (worldwide) is about 0.45 kg per year. In the European Union, more than 2 kg of canned tuna per capita was consumed in 2012!
Experts' Corner
Of the 14 tuna species, 7 are of major commercial importance.
3 species* (Atlantic bluefin tuna, Pacific bluefin tuna, Southern bluefin tuna) represent only 1% of the volume of catches.
Read more:
- Find tuna trade data in the IDDRI report “Tuna: fish and fisheries, markets and sustainability – 2017”
- The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture
FAO – 2020 Edition
