Tuna Recovery at Risk as Industry expands

In 2011, Atlantic bluefin tuna were classified as endangered. Although populations have since recovered, our report uncovers warning signs that the expansion of this industry, with a lack of reliable data, could be contributing to a potential population crisis for the wild species – just years after it bounced back from endangered status.

Growing Transparency Concerns

The report reveals substantial growth in Atlantic bluefin tuna farming over the past two decades. The number of licensed farms increased from 13 in 2006, to 123 in 2026, while the number of tuna farmed each year has risen from up to 55,000 animals in 2006 to around one million in 2024.

More concerningly, we found significant gaps in data on catches, production and trade, making it difficult to assess the true scale of the industry’s growth. As the sector expands, greater transparency and more robust reporting will be essential to understand, monitor and manage its environmental and resource impacts.

Pressure on Marine resources

Atlantic bluefin tuna are highly carnivorous and require large quantities of wild-caught fish as feed. Our analysis found that a single farmed tuna producing just 200kg of meat could consume up to 3,000kg of smaller fish during production, equivalent to around 33,000 sardines or 166,000 anchovies.

These smaller, wild fish play an important role in marine ecosystems and support food security and livelihoods of coastal communities, particularly in North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The report also highlights that over €64 million in public funding has been directed towards tuna farming over recent decades.

Dr Elena Lara, our Senior Research and Policy Advisor and report author, said:

Atlantic bluefin tuna are incredible underwater giants. In the wild, they can swim 260 kilometres every day – so it is completely unnatural, and unsustainable to confine them in sea cages.  

This destructive and unsustainable industry takes wild tuna from our oceans to fatten them on huge quantities of wild-caught fish – mainly to supply luxury sushi and sashimi markets. 

For too long, governments have failed to regulate a sector which is driving environmental harm and severe animal suffering. They must act now to stop tuna farming and commit to keeping tuna wild. 

So soon after the species recovered from endangered status, we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Farming boom could put wild tuna at risk