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(DOHA)—Japan,
the world’s biggest consumer of Atlantic bluefin tuna, is furious at
attempts by Monaco and many other countries to prevent commercial
fishing of the imperilled species. Magnificent, powerful, prized and
seriously threatened, the bluefin tuna is a species that overfishing
has driven to the brink. Should the CITES listing go forward, Japan is
threatening to take out a Reservation, absolving the nation of its
responsibilities under the Treaty with respect to the species.
“As a
fisheries biologist, it is clear to me that the tragic status of this
species exemplifies everything bad that we have been doing to fish
stocks,” said Linda Paul of Earthtrust, a member of the Species
Survival Network. “We have consistently ignored the best advice, set
catch limits that are way too high (and are frequently exceeded anyway)
and now face the consequences of our irresponsibility. Things have come
to a crisis point,” she continued. “Since all other efforts have
failed, CITES simply must agree to include Atlantic bluefin tuna on
Appendix I of the Convention, despite Japanese threats to undermine
CITES.”
Regarded by connoisseurs as a prestigious, luxury food (a massive
bluefin tuna was sold in Japan for a record $175,000 in January 2010
and a serving of raw Atlantic bluefin tuna can command up to $100)
Japanese officials have made it clear that they may ignore the ban in
order to keep on importing and consuming this almost
commercially-extinct delicacy.
“This would be a bad move by Japan,” Paul comments. “If they enter a
Reservation, unless other Parties do as well, the Japanese will have to
trade with non-CITES Parties, of which there are just a handful, or
increase their own fishing effort.”
That may not be easy despite Japan’s awesome fishing fleet capacity.
Depleted Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks are difficult to find and most
are in waters under the jurisdiction of coastal states, which would be
bound by the ban. Illegal tuna fishing would turn the row about trade
and conservation into international incidents that could unravel the
very fabric of the CITES agreement.
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