South Korean tuna company Dongwon Industries has won the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Grand Prize at the 2025 Korea Management Awards, a category introduced this year as companies step up investment in data-driven operations. The award recognized Dongwon’s use of AI across its fishing and processing businesses, part of a broader push by the Group to improve efficiency and traceability.

The Dongwon GPT, introduced by the company in April, ensures the safe storage of internal data and supports a variety of tasks, including report writing, data analysis, and enhanced work productivity, read the Group’s statement. Last year, it introduced AI to its tuna fishing operations, a way to attract a young workforce. Its ‘Tuna Buddy’ has been assisting foreign sailors onboard Dongwon vessels by responding to their queries, any time during the day. The device speaks in over 20 foreign languages to aid foreign workers. A spokesperson said that the company has a lot of interest in AI, especially to improve existing work methods. “We will continue to secure future growth engines by applying rapidly developing Artificial Intelligence technology to the right places in our business.” The Korea Management Awards, established in 1988, aims to foster sustainable growth and strengthen global competitiveness in domestic industries.

Last week, South Korean tuna brand Ottogi announced that it has launched three new tuna pouches under its brand ‘Light & Joy,’ for health-conscious consumers who are looking to make a quick and easy meal such as for salads, canapés, and tacos. One is the ‘Picnic Tuna,’ made from water chestnuts and carrots, and has a crunchy texture and a savory, with a sweet flavor. The others are ‘Cheongyang Mayo Tuna’ with Cheongyang peppers and mayo, and ‘Mako Mayo Tuna’ added with spicy Sriracha sauce. The products contain 30 percent less fat content than existing tuna items on the market, reported Korean news sites.

The products are available through Ottogi’s official site and other online retail platforms. A company spokesperson said that ‘Light & Joy’ tuna pouches can be used in various meal replacement menus, while reducing the burden of extra fat in the foods. “We plan to continue to expand the range of light foods that can be enjoyed deliciously and healthily in everyday life.”

Global non-profit Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) recently kicked off a five-year initiative, the GoTFish Project, aimed at improving the sustainability and management of tuna and other fisheries in the Gulf of Thailand (GoT), “one of the world’s most productive but increasingly overexploited marine ecosystems,” read a SFP press release.

Strengthening regional transboundary fisheries governance and institutional capacity, aligning the market to support sustainable tuna and other fisheries, and conserving critical aquatic habitats through the identification of ecological corridors are some of the main components of the initiative. Enhancing stakeholder engagement, communication, and monitoring to ensure inclusive participation and effective knowledge sharing is also included. Pedro Ferreiro, an SFP spokesperson, said that the Gulf of Thailand is reaching a critical crossroads. With GoTFish, the organization is mobilizing the private sector to turn global seafood demand into a force for recovery. “This project shows that when markets support responsible practices, the improvements can be deep and long-lasting.” According to an FAO report, longtail tuna, kawakawa, and frigate tuna are the most commonly found tuna in the Gulf of Thailand. Yellowfin are also occasionally caught in smaller quantities in this area.