The human appetite for sushi and sashimi has created a market where a single bluefin tuna can be sold for more than $170,000. In recent decades, both Western and Eastern Atlantic blufin tuna populations have been demolished by industrial fishing.
“Failing to move ahead with stronger management measures for bluefin is not an option,” said Maria José Cornax, fisheries campaign manager at Oceana Europe.
“Current management measures have not only been unable to restore bluefin stocks within a reasonable time period, but have also simply been ignored. We cannot close our eyes to the evidence by accepting a status quo that simply doesn’t exist.”
Oceana is calling on ICCAT to implement the following protections for Atlantic bluefin tuna:
- Suspension of the industrial bluefin tuna fishery in the Eastern Atlantic and a total suspension of all bluefin fisheries in the Western Atlantic;
- Establishment of no-take zones in bluefin tuna spawning areas in the Mediterranean sea and the Gulf of Mexico; and
- Follow scientific advice to restore North Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks to sustainable levels, ensuring the positive outcome of the international agreements.
Oceana has stressed the fact that bluefin tuna infringements occur on a daily basis at different levels. In fact, the information reported by the organization to the ICCAT compliance committee in 2009 according to the Recommendation 08/99 (COC-307/2009) led to withdrawal of bluefin tuna licenses from one Italian and two Libyan purse seiners.
More recently, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ (ICIJ) reported on the $4 billion bluefin tuna black market[1], which underscored the critical need for a precautionary approach to be put in place to prevent the disappearance of one of the ocean’s top predators.
“The first comprehensive management plan for the Eastern bluefin tuna stock was adopted in 2006. Five years later and after on-going evidence of the blatant disregard of rules by Mediterranean purse seiners and the farming industry, no sanctions have been applied against ICCAT Contracting Parties for non-compliance,” added Ms Cornax. “A complete closure of bluefin tuna industrial fishing is the only option that remains to ensure a real stock recovery, and this week could be a real turning point for the species.”
