The controversial Annobón tuna factory in Equatorial Guinea will be inaugurated on June 5. The news was confirmed by Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea, on his X social media page. Mangue said that earlier this week, a multisectoral meeting was held with the Commission in charge of state works and was assured that the final works of the factory is continuing, and will be completed in a week. However, it is unlikely to begin full-fledged operations during that time as bringing together a workforce to make the cannery up and running would take more time.

His X post read: “I have ordered the acceleration of the shipment of materials and technical personnel to ensure compliance with the schedule, as well as proceeding with the installation of solar panels to ensure Annobón’s electrical autonomy. Our commitment is to complete these works on schedule, improve the living conditions of the population, and consolidate our islands as benchmarks for tourism and economic development.” Millions of euros were invested in the factory for which construction began six years ago but has yet to finish. Equatorial Guinea’s Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue had held a meeting with the Ministry of Fisheries authorities earlier this year to speed up the work.

The two-week WCPO regional operation ‘Tui Moana 2025’ (OPTM25) to combat IUU fishing concluded last Friday. Officials seized nine “vessels of interest”, including one that was confirmed to be carrying out IUU fishing. A statement from FFA, which led the Operation, read, “A total of 76 fishing vessels were boarded – 30 in port and 46 at sea – with an additional 31 vessel sightings and 4,937 satellite detections recorded.” The agency did not reveal further details about the vessels that were seized. FFA Officer in Charge of the Fisheries Operation Division, Jason Raubani, said: “The success of OPTM25 highlights the continued strong regional cooperation that is in place, and the commitment to protecting the rights of Members and their valuable tuna resources.”

OPTM25 is a regional maritime surveillance initiative led by the FFA. Its primary objective is to combat IUU fishing in the EEZs of its ten participating Pacific Island nations. It aims to safeguard vital tuna fisheries, which are crucial for the food security and economy of the islands. It was supported by the Pacific QUADs – Australia, France, New Zealand, and the US — along with key monitoring, control, and surveillance partners.

British consumers can also enjoy Rio Mare Insalatissime Tuna Salads. These products have been a favorite in many EU countries and Bolton recently launched them in the UK market. The ready-to-eat products come in 160 gr fully recyclable packages with no added preservatives. The range includes six tuna salads in the following flavors: Mexican style, Cous Cous, Sweetcorn, Lentils, Beans, and Quinoa at a retail price of GBP 2.99 (USD 4.06).

Igor Viteznik, Sales and Marketing Manager of Bolton UK said that the sales of the salad pots in the EU have proven that tuna snacks are both delicious and nutritious. “We are excited to bring this success to the UK, offering retailers a unique opportunity to grow their healthy snack sales.” The brand has several canned and jarred tuna in olive oil options available in the UK. The launch of the salad is supported with in-store promotions and later this year with TV advertising and social media campaigns.