March 9, 2010

Japan opposes to bluefin tuna ban

Japan, whose unique seafood-eating culture is coming under increasing criticism as fish stocks decline, is facing another challenge as an international wildlife protection body prepares a ban on trading of bluefin tuna, a pricey breed prized in Japan as a sushi and sashimi ingredient.

Alarmed by sharp declines in the population of the species from overfishing, member nations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species are likely to approve a proposal to ban import and export of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic at their meeting in Doha, Qatar, according to reports.

Earlier, a number of nations, including the US, have expressed support for the proposal, making it likely it will win two-thirds of the votes needed to pass at the 175-member body, government officials said.

Japan, which consumes 70-80% of the global catch of bluefin tuna and about a quarter of all tuna, has unsuccessfully fought the proposal, and Japanese government officials are now threatening to "opt out" - essentially defy the consensus of the international community - if it is approved in its current form.

Under the terms of the convention, Japan would not face any penalty for opting out - though it is likely to face widespread criticism. The next step would be for countries seeking a ban to try and negotiated a compromise with Tokyo.

The proposed ban is the latest headache for Japan's fisheries officials who have faced increasing heat from environmentalists and other governments in recent years as the desire to protect marine resources has grown around the world.

Japan has been forced to curtail catches of other types of tuna in recent years, and is competing more and more with China and other increasingly wealthy Asian neighbors as their demand for seafood rises.

In opposing the CITES proposal, Japan said managing bluefin tuna resources should be done by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, another international body, made up of a smaller number of fishing nations.
 

Meanwhile, the EU has expressed support for the ban but proposed changes that would make it less strict. The EU, which includes bluefin fishing nations like Italy and Spain, wants to introduce a 12-month grace period before the implementation of the pact and set up a standing committee to review the ban later this year. It also wants to allow "artisanal fishing firms" along the Mediterranean coast to continue fishing to supply their local markets.

Driven by what environmentalists call "luxury fish markets" in Japan, the stocks of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean oceans are estimated to have dropped to 15-30% of the levels four to five decades ago before large-scale international trading in the fish started, according to the CITES.