The Ecuadorian tuna organization TUNACONS, last week, won the inaugural International PUCEM Awards 2026, presented by the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador in Manabí, a private university in Ecuador, in recognition of TUNACONS’ support for the institution’s marine biodiversity conservation initiatives.

The award highlights collaboration between academic institutions and fisheries organizations to advance scientific knowledge of sustainable fisheries and marine ecosystem protection. The partnership also aims to give university students greater opportunities for research and training on marine conservation and the responsible use of ocean resources, according to TUNACONS. The organization stated that when fishing organizations, NGOs, and universities collaborate, they contribute to developing solutions based on science and strengthening a culture of responsibility with the ocean.

South Korea’s science-based tuna fisheries management and cooperation between the government, fishing industry, and NGOs have been recognized as an international best practice at a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) event held at the 37th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI). This achievement was the result of national research institutions verifying field data provided by the distant-water fishing industry, including Korea’s tuna longline fleet, and the joint support of the government and NGOs for sustainable fisheries, according to Korean news sites.

For more than four years, South Korea’s National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), NGOs and the tuna industry have collaborated on fisheries management, covering protected species, electronic monitoring, bait resources and joint responses to international fisheries organizations. Bait resource management was highlighted as a key example at the COFI meeting. Under the system, the deep-sea fishing industry provides data and samples collected during fishing operations, which NIFS uses to identify bait species and assess resource conditions. NIFS President Kwon Soon-wook said the institute would continue to advance science-based resource management to support sustainable tuna fisheries.

Sakhalin-based tuna fishing company Express is preparing to export its products to international markets, starting with China, as Russia’s Far East opens up to commercial bluefin fishing. Russia’s Sakhalin Region established official industrial bluefin catch quota for the first time in 2026, creating new opportunities for the area’s fishing industry. The regional Export Support Center, which helps businesses enter overseas markets, is working with Express on its export plans. The company has yet to disclose the volume of its first shipment.

The move follows a northward shift of large bluefin schools into the East Sakhalin subzone, prompting Russian fisheries authorities to authorise commercial fishing in the region for the first time in modern history this year. The subzone’s 2026 quota was set at 30 tons, including an allocation for Express, according to Russian news sites. Evgeny Valko, CEO of the company, attributed the increase in tuna numbers in local waters to climate change. “We are currently seeing an increase in their numbers in our waters. This is a favorable situation for the development of the region’s fishing industry,” he said.