Lately, the US has been meddling with Venezuelan fishers’ operations, claiming they are pushing back on the illegal drug trade from the South American nation, which in turn has jeopardized fishers’ livelihoods. However, they are determined to fight the odds put forth by the US and want to continue their operations, especially in the Carribbean Sea. A spokesperson for the Fishermen’s Councils said: “They [the US] have already bombed some boats, but without any kind of protocol for action. They are murderers, and we have to protect ourselves, our safety, our boats, and the peace and stability of the Republic.” Some of the sailors have joined hands to create a group called the “fishing militia” with members from different regions (across Venezuela) to ensure the security of their colleagues while they are at sea but it is unclear how they will do so.

According to Spanish news sites, since August, at least 32 Venezuelans have been killed by the US, claiming they were transporting drugs. The US navy has built up a large force in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off the coast of Venezuela, including the deployment of warships. Tensions between the US and Venezuela peaked last month after a group of US warship personnel boarded a Venezuelan tuna boat that was operating in the South American nation’s EEZ. Post incident, the Venezuelan government made a strong rule stating that all fishing vessels must deploy onboard cameras.

Aldi UK recently reported that there has been an increasing demand for premium seafood among British shoppers, including fresh yellowfin, as they are looking for alternatives for traditional seafood such as cod and salmon. According to the UK retailer, the sales of fresh tuna has shot up by almost 15 percent. The latest Kantar data showed that Aldi’s volume share of fresh fish sales hit 12.9 percent this year, 11 percent more YoY (months were not specified). This makes it the third largest retailer in terms of volume in this segment, across major UK supermarkets, reported business news sites. Kantar, a leading global data analytics and brand consulting company provides retail market information.

An Aldi spokesperson said that shoppers are becoming more adventurous when it comes to fish and seafood. “We are working closely with our suppliers to make sure we are offering new flavors and premium options for shoppers to try, all at affordable prices.”

Brazilian brand Gomes da Costa is back with the campaign promoting its tuna and pasta combo. On October 11, a 30-seconds animated video, with a humorous touch, was posted on YouTube starring the brand’s tuna can that gets cheered on and looked at adoringly by the pasta, waiting to be cooked. The video captioned “Try it and discover why Gomes da Costa tuna is such a hit with pasta dishes,” has attracted over 5 million views already. The company launched a campaign last year that also promoted pasta with tuna. It proved to be a success with over 21 million views on YouTube.

A spokesperson for Nauterra, that owns Gomes da Costa said: “Since 2022, we have been betting on the success of this pasta combination. By combining our tuna with an equally practical and tasty ingredient, we want to gain more space and frequency in consumers’ shopping baskets.” The campaign will be shown on TV, digital platforms, and social media, and the company has roped in content creators to promote it.

You can view more tuna commercials from Gomes da Costa and other brands here.