Tuna industry faces new consumer trends and environmental scrutiny

The tuna industry is experiencing divergent developments regarding consumer products and environmental sustainability. On the commercial side, Lisner has introduced ‘Hello Tuna’, a 85g pouch format designed for Gen Z and millennial consumers. This move targets mobile, convenience-oriented eating habits, aiming to attract both frequent users and new consumers through portable packaging and varied flavors.

Simultaneously, the Compassion in World Farming (CiWF) organization has released a report calling for a moratorium on the expansion of industrial bluefin tuna farming. The report highlights that licensed farms in the Mediterranean—including Spain, Malta, and Italy—have grown from 13 in 2006 to over 120 today, holding approximately one million fish annually.

CiWF expresses concerns regarding animal welfare and environmental impact, noting that producing 200kg of tuna meat can require up to 3 tons of smaller wild fish for feed. The organization is urging international and EU authorities to halt industry expansion and redirect public subsidies toward sustainable food production.