The 19th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference & Exhibition (TUNA 2026) officially opened today at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
Scheduled from September 14 to September 16, 2026, the three-day summit has brought together over 500 international delegates—including seafood executives, policymakers, and researchers—to address commercial and environmental developments across the global tuna sector.
Convening under the theme "Strengthening Value Chain Synergies, Blue Economies and Sustainability across the Global Tuna Industry," the conference is led by Conference Chairperson Susan Jackson, President of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), alongside Co-Chair Dr. Adisorn Promthep, Advisor to the Thai Tuna Industry Association (TTIA). Opening remarks were delivered by INFOFISH Director Gemma Meermans Matainaho and Fiji's Minister of Fisheries, H.E. Hon. Ms. Alitia Bainivalu, establishing a joint emphasis on pairing commercial strategy with sustainable fisheries governance.
The initial trade discussions featured a macroeconomic overview by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), presented by Senior Fishery Officer Stefania Vannuccini, which examined global production patterns, price volatility, and ongoing shipping disruptions.
Across eight specialized sessions featuring more than 40 speakers, the agenda is set to examine key industry challenges:
Commercial Trends: Addressing price volatility, increasing operational costs, and evolving demand across key Western consumer markets.
Supply Chain Transparency: Evaluating artificial intelligence and blockchain platforms designed to verify catch provenance from vessel to retail.
Fleet Decarbonization: Assessing clean energy transitions for fishing fleets, including presentations by Martin Purves of the International Pole & Line Foundation on small-scale vessel initiatives.
Sourcing Strategies: Reviewing regional raw material supply frameworks, such as the Pacific's East New Britain Initiative.
Running parallel to the summit is the TUNA 2026 Exhibition, featuring 44 corporate booths hosted by major industry groups, including the Thai Tuna Industry Association and international seafood suppliers. Exhibits highlight commercial innovations in automated fish processing, cold-chain transport, and eco-friendly fishing gear.
