More than 1400 Greenpeace supporters have petitioned the
Ministry of Fisheries to put a stop to a proposal that would see
New Zealand's total allowable catch of the tuna increase by 25 per
cent at the same time as fish stocks are at an historic low.
Submissions on the proposal close tomorrow (2).
Globally, bluefin tuna stocks are under severe pressure from
overfishing. The European Parliament yesterday confirmed its
support for stricter protection of the endangered northern bluefin
tuna (3). In recent weeks a growing number of governments,
including France and Italy, institutions, scientists and
stakeholders have declared their support for a suspension in the
international trade of northern bluefin tuna, which is caught
mainly in the Mediterranean Sea.
Greenpeace New Zealand oceans campaigner Karli Thomas said the
latest figures released by the Commission for the Conservation of
Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) showed stocks had fallen to an
alarming five per cent of un-fished levels.
She said the Commission had made a "half-hearted" attempt to
halt the decline by agreeing to a 20 per cent cut in fishing
internationally.
"Under the Ministry of Fisheries own Harvest Strategy Standard,
this species would already be classified as collapsed and be
considered for closure (4)."
In submissions to the Ministry, Greenpeace supporters say New
Zealand must work with the other countries involved in the southern
bluefin tuna fishery to close the fishery and give the species a
chance to recover.
"Globally, bluefin tuna fisheries are collapsing right before
our eyes. Southern bluefin tuna is listed as critically endangered
yet the Ministry of Fisheries is not only allowing the fishery to
continue, but it's proposing to increase the quota within the
current fishing season.
"The Ministry of Fisheries is now trying to sneak their
scandalous plan into action. They've asked for public comments
during January and February, when most Kiwis are more likely out
fishing themselves, or at least at the beach, rather than reading
the Ministry of Fisheries' website."
She said the proposal had the potential to harm New Zealand's
clean, green reputation which has been tarnished "too many times"
by the fishing industry which continues to overfish some stocks and
used destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling.
"New Zealand hoki and orange roughy are being removed from sale
by retailers overseas that set higher environmental standards than
our fishing industry is meeting. The Ministry of Fisheries is
supposed to be
sustainably managing our fisheries. It is failing."
The global destruction of bluefin tuna stocks is featured in the
movie, The End of the Line, which will screen during the
Documentary Edge film festival in early March in Auckland and
Wellington (5).
Other contacts: Karli Thomas, Greenpeace NZ oceans campaigner, 09 630 6317 ext 24
Phil Crawford, Greenpeace NZ communications and media, 021 22 99 594
Notes: (1) Southern bluefin tuna was listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature in 1996. Since the assessment was made, the population has fallen to even lower levels. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/21858/0
(2) The proposal by the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, which seeks to increase the Total Allowable Catch from 420 to 532 Tonnes, is available from the Ministry’s website:
http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Consultations/review+of+Southern+Bluefin+Tuna+STN+1/default.htm?WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished%23MainContentAnchor
(3) A European Parliament plenary vote on 10 February 2010 supported the listing of northern bluefin tuna as an endangered species and urged it’s inclusion on appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/press-centre/press-releases2/parliament-supports-bluefin-ban-10-02-08
(4) The New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries’ Harvest Strategy Standard is available online at:
http://fs.fish.govt.nz/Doc/16543/harveststrategyfinal.pdf.ashx
(5) http://www.documentaryedge.org.nz/2010/ak/film/end-of-the-line
Exp. contact date: 2010-03-11 00:00:00