Tuna Rights Day – Apr. 21, 2027

Expected Tuna Rights Day Deals

As a cause-driven observance, Tuna Rights Day focuses on advocacy and education rather than commercial deals. Organizations like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch will likely amplify their calls for sustainable seafood choices through educational campaigns and guides. Expect donation-matching programs from partners of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Greenpeace, encouraging contributions to marine conservation efforts. Sustainably-focused brands such as Wild Planet Foods may highlight their sourcing commitments. We will update this page with confirmed live campaigns and educational initiatives as April 21 approaches.

History of Tuna Rights Day

Tuna has been fished and consumed by people for thousands of years. One of the first mentions of tuna was in 350 B.C. by Greek philosopher Aristotle in his work “History of Animals.” Ancient Roman author Pliny the Elder recommended eating tuna to treat ulcers. Tuna has also been an integral part of the diets of the Japanese and Pacific Islanders since the 18th and 19th centuries.

There are over a dozen species of tuna. This availability of different species spurred the establishment of tuna fisheries across the world, wherever certain species were most abundant. By the early 1900s, humans were trying to perfect the process of canning fish. Initial attempts to can sardines weren’t very popular, so Albert P. Halfhill, co-founder of the Southern California Fish Company, decided to switch them out for albacore tuna. Canned tuna became a near-instant hit with consumers after its sale began in 1904. By the 1930s, Albacore tuna were nowhere to be found, seemingly disappearing from the coast of California altogether, thus forcing fishermen to look for tuna supplies elsewhere. During the Second World War, tuna boats were used to deliver supplies, and the U.S. had begun shipping canned tuna to American soldiers stationed in other countries. By 1954, the U.S. was the world’s biggest producer of canned tuna.

Today, overfishing has been recognized as a major threat to the ecological stability of the world. The rapid consumption of tuna now threatens to disrupt the marine food chain. Skipjack yellowfin, Atlantic bluefin, Southern bluefin, Pacific bluefin, big-eye, and Albacore tuna were recognized as being either overexploited or endangered in a 2007 United Nations report.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Tuna Rights Day