Hunfish cup: activists fight cruel cruelty to animals in Vienna!

Hunfish cup: activists fight cruel cruelty to animals in Vienna!

The association wants to draw attention to the grievance of tuna fishing against animal factories (VGT) with an information campaign that will take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Mariahilferstraße/corner Neubaugasse in Vienna. The event, which is under the motto "Tuna trap is cruelty to animals", aims to inform the public about the painful conditions under which tuna is caught. According to VGT research, all forms of tuna traps cause considerable agony for the fish. The campaign is also supported by an activist who has covered itself in an oversized tuna socket.

Current statistics show that tuna consumption in Austria is massive: In 2023, around 10,780,291 kilograms of tuna were imported, which corresponds to a value of over 73 million euros. The VGT appeals to consumers to avoid tuna products such as canned fish, salads or pizzas and thus make a contribution to animal welfare.

tuna stocks endangered

The problem of tuna traps is also tightened by the alarming reports about the stocks of the tuna. Jörn Selling, marine biologist, emphasizes that overfishing the tuna is a serious problem that is further exacerbated by traditional eating habits and the increasing demand for sushi in western countries. Especially in Japan, the meat of pregnant blue -free tuna, also called red thun, applies as a delicacy and is offered at proud prices.

The fishing methods such as the Almadrabas, a network labyrinth known since ancient times, are often advertised as sustainable. However, it is strongly criticized that these fishing methods are often caught in immature fish before they can reproduce. It is documented that Almadrabas catch over 800 tons of tuna every year, while only 120 tons were documented in the 17th century.

threats for the sea ecosystem

The World Thuna Day, which is committed globally on May 2, is also intended to indicate the endangerment of the tuna stocks and has been used worldwide since 2017 to draw attention to the need for measures to protect these species. On this occasion, the WWF regularly warns of an impending ecosystem collapse that could be caused by overfishing.