Tuna industry looks to artificial intelligence and innovation to strengthen value chain synergies

Representatives of the global tuna industry considered how technological innovation and artificial intelligence could strengthen the sector and support sustainability at the 19th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference & Exhibition (TUNA 2026) in Bangkok, Thailand 14-16 September.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) joined policymakers, researchers, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and industry leaders at the biennial conference which featured the theme: “Strengthening Value Chain Synergies, Blue Economies and Sustainability across the Global Tuna Industry.”

Susan Jackson, the president of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) and the chairperson of TUNA 2026, said the sector was undergoing rapid change, shaped by evolving market expectations, technological innovation, environmental challenges and growing demands for transparency and accountability.

“TUNA 2026 provides an important forum to share perspectives, examine emerging challenges, and identify practical solutions that strengthen the resilience, competitiveness and sustainability of tuna value chains around the world,” she said.

Manuel Barange, Assistant Director-General and Director of FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, delivered the keynote address highlighting the vital importance of aquatic foods in feeding the world’s growing population.

“We are seeing record levels of aquaculture food production and an increased attention to the growing contribution of aquatic foods to food security, nutrition and livelihoods,” Barange told the conference. "But future growth cannot come at the expense of the health of aquatic ecosystems.”

“While capture fisheries remain a critical source of aquatic foods, sustainability concerns persist and we have to ensure responsible fisheries management, healthy marine ecosystems and resilient food systems for the future.”

INFOFISH TUNA 2026 Conference Chair and ISSF President Susan Jackson (second from left) at the panel “Global Tuna to 2030 – Supply, Demand, Sustainability and Competitiveness.” ©INFOFISH TUNA 2026

TUNA2026 participants examined how value chain synergies could be strengthened to improve resilience and support long-term growth and investment in an increasingly complex global environment.

Advances in digital traceability, artificial intelligence, electronic monitoring, data interoperability and other technologies are reshaping how tuna is caught, processed, traded and marketed.

The conference considered how these tools might be deployed effectively to support both large commercial operations and smaller producers, while enhancing efficiency, compliance and market access.

Martin Purves, the managing director of the International Pole & Line Foundation, which represents small-scale fisheries, said it was important to remember their activities underpinned the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities.

"As digital tools, traceability systems and AI reshape the seafood sector, it is important these fisheries are not left behind,” he said. “The IPNLF is working to ensure innovation is accessible at their scale, supporting competitiveness, market access and long-term resilience."

FAO supports sustainability and marine biodiversity at INFOFISH

The Common Oceans Tuna project, a global partnership led by the Food and Agriculture Organization and financed by the Global Environment Facility, supports sustainable tuna fisheries that ensure responsible management and biodiversity conservation in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).

The project works with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and other partners to highlight the crucial link between protecting tuna populations and ensuring economic stability, food security and long-term resilience.

“The conference is a valuable opportunity for representatives of the industry, RFMOs, policymakers and others to strengthen collaboration and ensure sustainable outcomes that support biodiversity and marine health,” said Joseph Zelasney, coordinator of FAO’s Common Oceans Tuna Project.

Nicolas Guichoux, chief program officer at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a non-profit organization which supports sustainable fishing, also welcomed the opportunity for stakeholders to discuss ways to advance sustainability at INFOFISH 2026.

“The MSC believes increasing demand for sustainable seafood from retailers and consumers incentivises fisheries to engage with certification and improve their sustainability,” he said.

“This in turn can strengthen engagement with RFMO processes leading to stronger fisheries management procedures and helping to build more resilient and sustainable tuna fisheries for all.”

FAO GLOBEFISH, a multi-donor funded project, worked with INFOFISH to support the development of the TUNA 2026 conference programme, helping to shape an agenda that integrates the latest market intelligence, trade perspectives, as well as value chain resilience and sustainability considerations across the global tuna industry.