The tuna that ‘feeds the world’ was acknowledged in a week of activities celebrating the Pacific Tuna which contributes a third of the world’s tuna supply.
Kicking off on UN World Tuna Day, a joint social media initiative from Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and The Pacific Community (SPC), Teen Tuna Tok, saw the voices of the Pacific’s young people amplified last week.
Cailyn Ponapart, sixteen years old, one of the participants from the Federated States of Micronesia, said “We had lots of questions but chose the few that we are most curious about. This was fun and it is exciting that these experts are replying to our questions”
Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Director-General, Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen noted the importance of hearing and responding to the thoughtful questions from the Pacific youth about one of the few primary industries accessible to all Pacific Island economies.
“Our tuna fisheries are an important contributor to the lives and livelihoods of our people and the economies of our countries,” said Dr Tupou-Roosen. “It is critical for our experts to engage with our young people as our next generation of leaders to continue to promote this. We always learn so much by listening to, amplifying and having meaningful conversations with our young people.”
SPC’s Director Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division, Neville Smith, said there had been great feedback about the campaign, now in its second year.
“As a scientist I often say to people interested in our field that it's important to keep asking questions,” said Mr Smith. “It’s great to see our young people doing exactly that. We are so pleased to see the level of engagement from youth, but also from people watching and encouraging this innovative two-way dialogue.”
To date, the campaigns received 16,000 views from all over the Pacific. The Teen Tuna Tok series can be viewed on SPC’s Youtube, Instagram and Facebook and FFA’s Facebook, Youtube, Linkedin and Twitter. Watch here the full playlist.
FFA has also shared a video on how to prepare tuna sashimi to mark World Tuna Day.
Media Contact(s):
Samantha Mattila, FFA Strategic Communications Manager | [email protected] or +61 434 567 673
Toky Rasoloarimanana, Communications Officer, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division, Pacific Community | [email protected] or +687 89 93 94
About the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)
FFA assists its 17-member countries to sustainably manage fishery resources that fall within their 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). FFA provides expertise, technical assistance and other support to its members who make decisions about their tuna resources and participate in regional decision making on tuna management. Find out more here: www.ffa.int
About the Pacific Community (SPC)
The Pacific Community has been supporting sustainable development in the Pacific, through science, knowledge and innovation since 1947. It is the principal intergovernmental organisation in the region, owned and governed by its 27 member countries and territories.
