Bluefin tuna fishing ban rejected
Catches of Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean Sea will not be cut, despite evidence that fishermen caught more than they were allowed in 2007.
The 2007 season saw unprecedented reports of overfishing, under-reporting, catch laundering and fishing activity even after the fishery closed for the season.
This, however, has not been sufficient to urge those responsible for international fisheries management to take strong action to save the imperilled bluefin.
WWF, supported by the US and Canadian governments, proposed a moratorium on bluefin catches to allow stocks time to recover.
Instead, delegates attending the November meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) allowed requests for small quota increases from a number of countries including Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.
Deadly blow for bluefin
"The message from ICCAT’s own scientists is loud and clear – this fishery is running headlong towards collapse,” said WWF's Dr Sergi Tudela. “Yet even in this most critical of situations, ICCAT has failed to find an appropriate solution, instead putting bluefin tuna management directly in the hands of private operators.
"What hope remains for Mediterranean bluefin tuna? The situation is grim."
