World Tuna Day2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/71/124
About World Tuna Day
World Tuna Day is observed on 2 May. The United Nations General Assembly established the annual observance through resolution A/RES/71/124, adopted on 7 December 2016.
The day highlights tuna’s importance to food security, livelihoods and economies while emphasizing the need for long-term conservation and sustainable management of tuna stocks and marine ecosystems.
Why World Tuna Day matters
Tuna fisheries cross national boundaries and involve coastal States, distant-water fleets, regional fisheries bodies, markets and consumers. Sustainable management therefore depends on science, international rules, enforcement and cooperation rather than awareness alone.
The observance is also especially relevant to small island developing States whose economies, food systems and cultures can be closely tied to tuna resources.
History of World Tuna Day
Pacific Small Island Developing States advanced the proposal for World Tuna Day. During the General Assembly consideration, Palau introduced the draft on behalf of the Pacific SIDS group.
On 7 December 2016, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/71/124 and designated 2 May as World Tuna Day.
The United Nations celebrated World Tuna Day for the first time on 2 May 2017. The reviewed establishing sources designate the date but do not provide a source-explicit historical reason for choosing 2 May.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Pacific Small Island Developing States; Palau introduced the draft on their behalf
General Assembly meeting coverage states that the World Tuna Day text was introduced by Palau on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/71/124
First documented observance
The President of the General Assembly explicitly described 2 May 2017 as the first United Nations celebration of World Tuna Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe World Tuna Day
Learn which regional fisheries management organizations cover major tuna stocks and how scientific assessments are translated into catch or conservation measures.
Compare seafood labels or sourcing claims with information from fisheries authorities and avoid assuming that one certification answers every sustainability question.
Explore why highly migratory fish require cooperation across exclusive economic zones and the high seas.
Use an official stock-status source to distinguish the condition of a specific tuna stock from broad claims about tuna worldwide.
World Tuna Day Facts
World Tuna Day is observed every year on 2 May.
The General Assembly established the day through resolution A/RES/71/124 on 7 December 2016.
Palau introduced the establishing draft on behalf of Pacific Small Island Developing States.
The first United Nations observance took place on 2 May 2017.
The reviewed first-party sources do not designate one continuing central facilitator or explain why 2 May was selected.
World Tuna Day Messages
May World Tuna Day inspire curiosity about the living world and thoughtful action to protect it.
Celebrate World Tuna Day by learning from credible conservation sources and choosing one practical way to reduce harm or support protection.
Wishing everyone marking World Tuna Day a day of discovery, respect for nature and care that continues beyond today.
On World Tuna Day, may appreciation for the natural world lead to informed stewardship and practical care for the places and species around us.
World Tuna Day Quotes
“Tuna represents more than just a fish; it serves as an essential source of income, nutrition, and economic potential for coastal populations.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/71/124 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — General Assembly meeting coverage, 7 December 2016 (opens in a new tab)
President of the United Nations General Assembly — first-ever World Tuna Day (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Sustainable Development — inaugural World Tuna Day (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — World Tuna Day (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Tuna Day?
2 May The documented recurrence rule is: 2 May.
Does World Tuna Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is World Tuna Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Tuna Day?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Pacific Small Island Developing States; Palau introduced the draft on their behalf.
Is World Tuna Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When was World Tuna Day established?
The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/71/124 on 7 December 2016 and designated 2 May as World Tuna Day.
Who proposed World Tuna Day?
United Nations meeting coverage identifies Pacific Small Island Developing States as the initiative’s sponsors, with Palau introducing the draft on their behalf.
When was the first World Tuna Day?
The United Nations explicitly describes 2 May 2017 as the first UN celebration of World Tuna Day.
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