The United Nations General Assembly has ratified the annual celebration of World Tuna Day, to become a globally recognised event.
World Tuna Day began as a small region event in 2011 and commemorate the wild species that provide people with a good source of nutrition. It takes place on the 2 May every year.
Dr Caleb Otto of the Republic of Palau was the selected delegate of the Pacific Small Islands States to present the draft resolution about World Tuna Day to the Assembly.
He said: “In my own region, tuna has for centuries provided an important source of food for Pacific islanders’ employment as well as of intangible cultural and traditional value to our people.”
“The World Tuna Day is therefore necessary to protect these magnificent species and to protect our oceans and seas and the millions of people who rely on them.”
Following this, representatives from other countries continued to present their positions at the podium and ratify their support – with 96 countries already supporting it and now objections received.
