Aldi and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) recalled a tuna product from the retailer last week. The Fishmonger Soy & Ginger Fusions Tuna 80 g may contain wheat, which is not listed among the ingredients, making it unsafe to consume for some people with a gluten allergy. The product was sold in Aldi’s retail shops nationwide.

A statement from Aldi read: “Our supplier is recalling The Fishmonger Soy & Ginger Fusions tuna because it contains an undeclared allergen (wheat). Customers are asked to return this product to their nearest store where a full refund will be given. We apologize that this product did not meet our normal high standards and thank you for your co-operation.” The discounter chain stated that consumers, who purchased this item, can contact customer service or find information through its website.

A fire broke out on Mexican-flagged tuna purse seiner ‘Azteca 8’ last week while it was docked at the fishing pier of Alfredo V Bonfil Industrial Park in Mazatlán. The Pesca Azteca-owned boat was partially damaged in the incident. No casualties were reported.

According to Mexican news sites, the exact reason for the fire is not known but onlookers stated that smoke and flames emerged from inside the vessel that was docked for maintenance works. Workers in the industrial park were evacuated and the blaze was quickly controlled using fire hydrants thus ensuring that it did not spend to other boats. The 73-meter-long ‘Azteca 8’ has a 1,512 gross tonnage and fishes in the IATTC convention area. The RFMOs first veda, which began on July 29, ended on October 8 and the next one will begin in November. It is unclear why the seiner, supposed to be fishing now, was docked at the port in between two veda’s.

Panama is the latest nation to show its commitment to sustainable management of tuna and other marine resources. The Latin American nation joined the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier this week. “This agreement establishes a strategic collaboration to strengthen the management of the country’s fisheries resources, increase transparency in fisheries governance, and combat illegal fishing,” read a FiTI statement.

A FiTI spokesperson welcomed Panama’s initiative to improve fisheries transparency. She explained: “The country is demonstrating not only commitment to data collection but also to the continuous improvement of the quantity and quality of information available about the fisheries sector. Ensuring public access to this information is key to complying with the FiTI standards.” Panama has flagged longliners and purse seiners fishing in the IATTC and ICCAT convention areas. It also has fish carriers and cargo freezers operating in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) recently released a new feature on its website that gives in-depth details about the “influence network” of its 23 participating companies in the four major tuna RFMOs. ISSF has mapped the activity locations of its participating companies, their MSC-certified fisheries, and FIPs, which are reviewed quarterly, to understand their distribution in the major tuna fishing oceans. The Foundation mentioned its members serve on advisory committees and national delegations to help improve transparency and management of the tuna supply chain. The novel feature takes the user, as they scroll down, to the above mentioned details in all the major convention areas: WCPFC, IATTC, ICCAT, and IOTC.

“In our assessment, we found that ISSF participating companies, MSC-certified tuna fisheries, and tuna FIPs are positioned to influence between 77-97 percent of the decision-making member countries that adopt measures and policies in the tuna RFMOs,” said the organization. Major tuna companies and brands such as Thai Union, Bolton Food, Bumble Bee Seafood, Tri Marine, Frinsa, Jealsa, and Isabel are among the ISSF’s members.

Philippines is expected to start a cold chain project in Bislig City, known for its tuna fishing activities. Authorities at the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Program (DA-PRDP) stated that the upcoming PHP 242 million (USD 4.2 million) project would be developed for small-scale fishers in the tuna-rich grounds of the Filipino province Surigao del Sur (where Bislig is located).

A spokesperson for the agency said the new facilities, where tuna can be stored, will offer fisherfolk opportunities to preserve the quality of their catch. “It will also help to diversify their product offerings, address critical gaps in input supply and fish processing in the region,” he told the Philippine News Agency. The tuna caught in this region usually goes for local consumption, and some are likely to be headed to small canneries.

Maldives’ Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the island nation will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia “to enhance the fisheries industry and explore opportunities for fish export, technology, and knowledge transfer.” Shiyam did not give further details of the content of the MoU for the largest producer of pole-and-line skipjack, or when it would be inked.

Shiyam’s post read that the new deal “will pave the way for the export of Maldivian tuna products to Saudi Arabia, an emerging market for sustainable seafood.” The Middle East country is one of the largest growing markets for canned tuna. Saudi Arabia expanded its business for private-label items in the first half of this year. The Maldivian government expects that the deal, besides an increase in exports, will also attract major investments in the fishing industry. This could help support the island nation’s economic growth and sustainability.