Ecuadorian tuna and seafood fishermen came together last week for the three-day ‘Fishing for Plastic’ initiative, whereby they collected nearly 20,000 kg of plastic in the Gulf of Guayaquil. The fishers took a boat to mangroves and estuaries in this area to collect the waste, mostly bottles, in a bid to reduce the rampant plastic pollution in the region.

Guillermo Morán, Executive Director of TUNACONS, said that the plastic waste does not come only from Guayaquil, but floats from other parts of the ocean as well. He added that a project to clean it up was the need of the hour. The Ministry of Fisheries took to X to laud the initiative, stating that local authorities, private companies, and NGOs participated in the second edition of the initiative for the conservation of coastal ecosystems. They worked together to reduce marine pollution by collecting single-use plastics while engaging artisanal fishermen through education and active participation to promote clean seas and sustainable fishing. The Municipality of Guayaquil also appreciated the efforts of the participants and took to its social media to share a video of the three-day activity.

Earlier this week, Filipino tuna brand Century Tuna organized for the third consecutive year its ‘Saving Our Seas’ campaign, aiming for cleaner seas in the nation. This year, the clean-up initiative was held in six sites in Manila, Batangas, Subic, Davao, Zamboanga, and General Santos City. The event further promotes the circular economy around plastic and marine conservation across the country, reported Filipino news sites. More youngsters participated as Century Tuna’s new brand ambassador, Korean actor Park Seo Joon, promoted the initiative. Over 8,000 volunteers attended the clean-up, a bigger participation when compared to the past two years.

‘Saving Our Seas’ was officially launched in June 2023 with a coastal and reef clean-up in Mabini.

On December 1, Spanish company Grupo Consorcio will celebrate 75 years of being an integral part of the global tuna industry. The Group is honoring this milestone by hosting a over one-month long exhibition ‘75 Years Preserving Our Heritage’, which kicked off earlier this week. Photographs of the sea and the people of Santoña, historical documents, advertisements, and vintage tuna and other seafood cans are some of the items on display. They were curated by popular architect Javier Sazatornil and historian Rómulo Martí, “who developed a narrative that unites the history of the company and that of Santoña,” reported Spanish news sites. The evolution of fishing techniques, specific characteristics of the species traded, and the integral role of women in the canning sector are also explained. The event will be held in the Doctor Madrazo Cultural Center until December 19.

Grupo Consorcio was founded in 1950 and is currently headquartered in Santoña, Spain, where it has a tuna processing plant. It also has a manufacturing site in Pisco, Peru, for canned anchovies. The company has a workforce of over 900 people.