March 19, 2010

Bluefin tuna ban struck down

A proposal to ban the international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna was rejected on Thursday (March 18) at an international wildlife summit in Doha, Qatar.

Only the US, Norway and Kenya supported outright a proposal set forth last year by Monaco to the 175-nation Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). Monaco had sought an Appendix I listing for the species, which would have suspended exporting.

The measure was defeated after scores of poor fishing nations joined Japan and Canada in opposing the measure, which they argued would devastate their fishing communities.

The EU asked for a delay in the implementation until May 2011 to allow for extra time to respond to their fishermen's concerns. Bluefin tuna populations in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea have fallen by as much as 75% in recent years due to overfishing.

Japan had previously stated that it would take a reservation if the trade ban passed and continue to import the species.

Approximately 80% of all bluefin tuna landed in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea ends up in Japan to supply its sushi and sashimi restaurants. Bluefin tuna is one of the most sought-after seafood species, both in Japan and around the world, largely for the high price that it fetches from wholesalers and distributors.