April 27, 2026 — The vast Pacific Ocean and the islands dotted within it produce more than half of the world’s tuna.
Among the islands are 33 scattered across the centre that encompass the country of Kiribati.
Here more than 70% of government revenues come from selling tuna fishing licenses to foreign fleets – the highest proportion of any nation.
Warming water temperatures caused by climate change pose a substantial risk to local tuna populations, threatening Kiribati’s economic backbone.
Scientists fear warmer waters could lead to tuna moving permanently out of its EEZ to cooler temperatures to the east, reducing the demand from overseas fleets for its fishing licenses, which would badly hit the country’s economy.