The global tuna industry is one of the most valuable, traded and commercially significant sectors within international seafood markets. Tuna remains a cornerstone of food security, nutrition and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide, while playing a critical role in national development, employment generation and foreign exchange earnings across producing and processing economies.

At the same time, the tuna industry operates within one of the most complex fisheries management environments globally. Highly migratory stocks span multiple jurisdictions and are governed through Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). Effective cooperation between States, industry and institutions is therefore essential to ensure sustainable resource use, regulatory predictability and long-term commercial viability.

Within the expanding Blue Economy framework, the tuna industry is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how sustainable management, innovation and value creation can be mutually reinforcing. Strengthening value chain synergies is central to this ambition, enabling greater efficiency, reduced waste, improved traceability and more equitable distribution of economic benefits.

Global tuna supply chains have become increasingly integrated, linking fishing operations, processing hubs, logistics networks and retail markets across continents. While this integration has supported scale and market reach, it has also increased exposure to disruption. Climate impacts, fuel costs, labour availability, regulatory change and geopolitical tensions have underscored the need for more resilient and adaptive value chains.

TUNA 2026 will explore how enhanced coordination, commercial alignment and information-sharing across the value chain can mitigate these risks while improving margins, market access and operational resilience. Aligning fisheries management measures with processing capacity, logistics planning and market demand will be central to managing volatility while maintaining sustainability commitments.

Market dynamics remain a key driver for decision-making. Consumer demand for sustainably sourced, transparently labelled and responsibly produced tuna continues to grow, while price sensitivity and competition from alternative proteins remain significant. Understanding these dynamics is essential for businesses seeking to position products effectively across diverse markets.

Investment will also be a defining factor in shaping the future competitiveness of the industry, especially in the downstream processing. Capital is increasingly directed towards operations demonstrating strong environmental, social and governance performance alongside financial returns. TUNA 2026 will examine how sustainability-linked finance, blended finance mechanisms and public–private partnerships can support fleet modernisation, innovation and value addition, particularly in developing economies.

The industry’s workforce remains central to productivity, reliability and long-term commercial performance. Ensuring safe working conditions, fair treatment and skills development is both a social responsibility and a business imperative. The Conference will highlight initiatives that strengthen labour standards while supporting efficiency and operational continuity.