FAO GLOBEFISH contributes expertise on responsible trade and social sustainability at the VI Tuna Sustainability Forum in Ecuador
©FAO/Érika Zárate Baca
FAO GLOBEFISH participated in the VI Tuna Sustainability Forum held on 29 October 2025 in Manta, Ecuador, organized by the Ecuadorian Chamber of Tuna Industrialists and Processors (CEIPA) and co-organized by FAO office in Ecuador. The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders to discuss the future of sustainable tuna value chains, particularly in Ecuador, aligning with FAO’s Blue Transformation vision and the FAO “Four Betters”: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.
Key outcomes from the 20th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Fish Trade (COFI:FT) were presented, with a focus on their implications for the tuna sector. FAO GLOBEFISH shared insights on global aquatic production and tuna trade trends, emphasizing the competitive position of Ecuador and Latin America in international markets, driven by the increasing export of cooked frozen tuna loins to the European Union and other major destinations.
During the forum, it was emphasized that access to reliable, consolidated, and timely trade data remains one of the sector’s primary challenges. Since its establishment in 1984, FAO GLOBEFISH has supported stakeholders and governments by providing free, evidence-based market intelligence and analysis on aquatic food markets, including quarterly reports, price tracking tools, interactive dashboards, species and country-specific insights, updates on food safety regulations and import notifications, trainings programs and technical publications such as the handbook on the Harmonized System (HS) developed by FAO, with the active support of the World Customs Organization (WCO), titled HS Codes for fisheries and aquaculture products.
In connection with the FAO Voluntary Guidance on Social Responsibility in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chains, currently under development, FAO GLOBEFISH underscored that social sustainability and responsible trade are core competitiveness factors for the fisheries and aquaculture sector, supporting a more transparent, equitable, and sustainable global fish trade. The forthcoming guidance promotes decent work, human rights, and social protection across all stages of the value chain, from industrial fishing, small-scale fishing, and aquaculture production to processing, distribution, wholesaling, and retailing.
FAO GLOBEFISH participation generated strong interest among attendees, with stakeholders requesting additional information, particularly on international tuna trade data and FAO GLOBEFISH market analysis.
The VI Tuna Sustainability Forum once again proved to be a valuable platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership-building to advance sustainability and social responsibility in the global tuna industry. FAO GLOBEFISH's presence at the forum strengthened FAO’s role as a technical advisor and advocate for responsible trade, while establishing the project as a global authority on market intelligence and socioeconomic analysis within the Blue Transformation roadmap.