Page 17 - IB May 2018 Edition

PNA countries honor tuna World Tuna Day 2018

with music, dance & poetry The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) controls the

world’s largest sustainable tuna purse seine fishery.
Countries around the world are
gearing up for May 2nd - World PNA invites you to celebrate!
Tuna Day.
Our goals are to keep tuna fishing in PNA waters sustainable for
It’s a day for celebration – and to our future generations and at the same time, receive fair share
educate the global public, business
owners, consumers and our chil- economic return on our fish for our Pacific Island people.
dren, about what it takes to keep
our tuna stocks healthy and sus- Wednesday, May 2
tainable. World Tuna Day is about www.pnatuna.com
teaching people that their voice
matters; when they demand certi- World Tuna Day was designated a global holiday
fied tuna that has been caught sus- ner, who will re- in 2016 at the United Nations General Assembly. ‘Smart Tuna – Smart Ocean’
tainably the business world listens ceive $3,000, and
– and responds. two runners up, who will each win and recipe contests for the public.
$500, will be announced on May They are preparing a float and, in
This year the PNA has encouraged 2nd as festivities and other activities addition, have speeches, singing, About Every year PNA hosts an Art & Talent Quest to celebrate World Tuna Day.
its member citizens and residents get underway locally. and skit contests planned. The day World This year’s entries are outstanding - and the winners will be announced on May 2nd.
to explore “Smart Tuna – Smart will be topped off with booths and Meanwhile, enjoy some of our past winning entries.
Ocean” in their Art and Talent PNA Member countries are gear- games for the kids. And for the Tuna
Quest 2018. This contest invites ing up for their own island celebra- adults, plans for a fishing tourna-
art, song, poetry, dance and drama tions. The Marshall Islands has an- ment are underway. Kiribati has Day When Seagulls Soar the Seas Again
entries that convey a “smart” mes- nounced school competitions that devoted their whole day to a pro- World Tuna By Chelcia Gomese, Solomon Islands - 2013
sage. Contestants across the PNA- include essays, poetry and music. gram that begins with singers who Day has been
member countries, the small island They also have tuna carving and will present a newly composed song celebrated since “I could see leaps of bonito tunas as they
nations of FSM, Kiribati, Nauru, tuna poke making contests in store. written to honor the event. They 2011 when the skimmed through the water. I could almost feel
Palau, PNG, RMI, Solomon Islands Meanwhile, their neighbors in the will move on to speeches and then Parties to the it as if I was one of them. I felt a hand slip into
and Tuvalu, have submitted several FSM have announced essay com- to presentations from students of Nauru Agreement mine. It was my father. Even though the morn-
works that will be judged by the petitions for high school students, all ages presenting rhymes, poems (PNA) declared ing was cold, I was warm inside. I turned and
PNA office staff. A first place win- as well as t-shirt design, drawing and pictures. Papua New Guinea May 2nd a holiday looked up at him and then I realized that we
will support environmental sustain- to honor the were both smiling. The bonitos were back.”
importance of
ability with a clean-a-thon and the tuna. “How Tuna Sees Us”
Solomon Islands always has won-
derful and memorable festivities to In 2016 the United Lloyd Newton,
commemorate the special day. Nations General Solomon Islands
Assembly elevated 2017
World Tuna Day has been celebrat- the occasion
by designating
ed since 2011 when the Parties to a resolution,
the Nauru Agreement (PNA) de- making World Tuna – A fish with a special place in my heart
clared May 2nd a holiday to honor Tuna Day a global By Ongerung Kesolei, Palau - 2012
the importance of tuna. In 2016 the holiday to honor
United Nations General Assembly and “highlight “Tuna is not only a special meal, but also holds
unanimously voted to elevate the the importance a special place in my heart. It was the super food
occasion by designating a resolu- of sustainably that was a staple during my childhood, and that
tion, making World Tuna Day a managed fish “Pacific Ways of a young widowed mother and an entire family
stocks in achieving
global holiday to honor and “high- the 2030 Agenda depended on for survival in their harsh economic
light the importance of sustainably for Sustainable Fishing for Tuna” conditions. And as an adult growing into middle
managed fish stocks in achieving Development.” Tiarite Kwong, Kiribati
Traditional dancers in Papua New Guinea observe World Tuna Day the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable 2016 age, tuna is a happy meal and life is wonderful.
with local songs celebrating fishing and the wonders of the ocean. Development.”
PNA members: Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu
Islands Business, May 2018 17