Maldivian state-run Mifco will soon begin exporting its premium canned tuna, Fasmeeru Felivaru, to Sri Lanka through Colombo-based Development Interplan Ceylon Ltd. (DICL). The deal was signed yesterday in Sri Lanka by Maldives President Muizzu and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar.

This milestone marks the formal entry of Maldivian tuna products into the Sri Lankan market, with DICL serving as the exclusive local representative and distribution partner for Fasmeeru, reported Sri Lankan news sites. Canned and packaged tuna products and other Maldivian delicacies will be available for consumers in Sri Lanka. DICL also plans to broaden consumer access through its upcoming retail and wholesale platform, Zefro, expanding the availability of premium, sustainably sourced seafood nationwide. Last year, the two nations joined hands to enhance tuna sector ties, including training fishers.

The San Marino canned tuna brand, popular in the Philippines, has been awarded for its Corned Tuna product. It was named Top Brand in the canned tuna category at the 2026 Asia CEO Summit & Awards Ceremony this week. The brand introduced the corned tuna flavor in the Philippines market in 2009 and has not changed the recipe since. The company stated the recognition celebrates that it lived up to the brand promise of “siksik, sarap, sulit,”which means filling, delicious, and value for money, a promise appreciated by consumers.

By remaining true to this commitment, San Marino distinguishes itself in the competitive canned tuna segment and meets modern consumers’ needs by offering a reliable choice they can trust regarding taste and quality, stated the judges. San Marino is the flagship brand of CDO Foodsphere Inc. and its Vice President for Marketing, Bernice Ilacad-Jalgalado, said: “This award reflects the kind of relationship we have built with Filipino families through the years. Because beyond taste, it is also about the milestones, the reliability, and the role we continue to play at the Filipino table,” reported several Filipino news outlets.

Swiss seafood trading company BlueYou recently announced, ahead of the World Tuna Day on May 2, that it has launched the Fair Trade Certified tuna program in the Maldives in partnership with Fair Trade US. The certification ensures that products meet strict social, economic, and environmental standards. Maldivian-caught pole-and-line skipjack and yellowfin certified under Fair Trade standards are expected to command premium prices in the EU and US, boosting returns for fishers beyond conventional tuna market earnings. The initiative will partner with 25 island communities across eight atolls, benefiting approximately 30,000 people, including 2,500 tuna fishers.

René Benguerel, co-founder and CEO of Blueyou, said: “Our five-year plan is to supply 500 freight containers of Fair Trade Certified canned tuna to retail markets. Our program helps seafood buyers mitigate social risks, which remain a major challenge in the global tuna industry.” BlueYou has previously run the Fair Trade program in the Maldives. In 2021, it partnered with the Maldivian company Horizon Fisheries for the certification.