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09 October 2009
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Last ditch attempts to save the majestic Atlantic bluefin tuna from commercial extinction are now under consideration.
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In October, the Principality of Monaco proposed listing the Atlantic bluefin tuna under a key international agreement for protecting endangered species which would mean a full ban on trade until the health of stocks improves.
The proposed listing would be under Appendix 1 of CITES---the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The US government supports the listing and various EU countries have also shown initial support. But, Canada has not supported listing.
Most notably, scientists from the organization that manages Atlantic tuna concluded recently that the extent of the decline in stocks means the species qualifies for listing under CITES. The scientists—working for the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) —say that there is a more than 90 per cent likelihood that stocks in the eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and in the western Atlantic have dropped to less than 15 per cent of their level before industrial fishing.
Debate coming on fate of bluefin
The fate of the Atlantic bluefin tuna will de debated at the annual meeting of ICCAT from November 7 to 15 in Brazil and then at a CITES meeting in Qatar March 13 to 25.
Why the decline
The bluefin tuna industry has stopped at nothing to meet a growing global demand for this highly valuable species. Now stocks are dangerously low after years of overfishing, unreported and illegal catches and poor control by ICCAT.
ICCAT has ignored recommendations from its own scientists to cut total allowable catches for eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stocks; to protect spawning grounds and spawning seasons and to improve controls over the fishery. Member states in ICCAT have ignored calls to voluntarily reduce catches in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean in 2009.
These factors combined with the slow reproduction rate of this species have left environmental groups, and some countries, looking to CITES for protection.
Canada and the Atlantic bluefin tuna
The western stock of the Atlantic bluefin tuna is under immense stress. Canada has a major stake in this population, as the Atlantic provinces and Quebec fish for bluefin, the bulk of which is caught off of PEI in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Reports of abundance in this region seem to overshadow the overall decline of this stock, creating false hope that recovery is possible without strong action taken on both sides of the Atlantic. Studies have also found that mixing occurs between the eastern and western stock, therefore the health of one stock is related to the other.
In 2007, ICCAT scientists estimated that the western bluefin tuna spawning stock had declined from 49,482 tonnes to 8,693 tonnes since 1970, a decline of more than 82 per cent in 38 years.
What must be done to save the bluefin?
Greenpeace is urging all ICCAT Contracting Parties to close the bluefin tuna fishery immediately. It should not re-open until:
The proposed listing would be under Appendix 1 of CITES---the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The US government supports the listing and various EU countries have also shown initial support. But, Canada has not supported listing.
Most notably, scientists from the organization that manages Atlantic tuna concluded recently that the extent of the decline in stocks means the species qualifies for listing under CITES. The scientists—working for the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) —say that there is a more than 90 per cent likelihood that stocks in the eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and in the western Atlantic have dropped to less than 15 per cent of their level before industrial fishing.
Debate coming on fate of bluefin
The fate of the Atlantic bluefin tuna will de debated at the annual meeting of ICCAT from November 7 to 15 in Brazil and then at a CITES meeting in Qatar March 13 to 25.
Why the decline
The bluefin tuna industry has stopped at nothing to meet a growing global demand for this highly valuable species. Now stocks are dangerously low after years of overfishing, unreported and illegal catches and poor control by ICCAT.
ICCAT has ignored recommendations from its own scientists to cut total allowable catches for eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stocks; to protect spawning grounds and spawning seasons and to improve controls over the fishery. Member states in ICCAT have ignored calls to voluntarily reduce catches in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean in 2009.
These factors combined with the slow reproduction rate of this species have left environmental groups, and some countries, looking to CITES for protection.
Canada and the Atlantic bluefin tuna
The western stock of the Atlantic bluefin tuna is under immense stress. Canada has a major stake in this population, as the Atlantic provinces and Quebec fish for bluefin, the bulk of which is caught off of PEI in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Reports of abundance in this region seem to overshadow the overall decline of this stock, creating false hope that recovery is possible without strong action taken on both sides of the Atlantic. Studies have also found that mixing occurs between the eastern and western stock, therefore the health of one stock is related to the other.
In 2007, ICCAT scientists estimated that the western bluefin tuna spawning stock had declined from 49,482 tonnes to 8,693 tonnes since 1970, a decline of more than 82 per cent in 38 years.
What must be done to save the bluefin?
Greenpeace is urging all ICCAT Contracting Parties to close the bluefin tuna fishery immediately. It should not re-open until:
- Marine reserves have been established to protect all the species' spawning grounds;
- Fishing capacity has decreased to sustainable levels;
- A new management plan in strict compliance with the scientific advice has been adopted and is being properly enforced.
