Bluefin Tuna
European politicians continue to drag their feet while the bluefin tuna, an important part of the Mediterranean ecosystem, continues to decline. So far there is no accountability for short-term decisions or the failure to enforce even weak regulations.
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The ICCAT could pick a number out of a hat and call it a quota for what it will matter to the bluefin tuna. In 2008 when the quota was already set 42% above scientific advice, it is estimated that the total catch was almost three times the set quota due to “pirate fishing.”
Food and Water Europe supports artisanal and historic fishing and an exception for traditional catch by a few Mediterranean countries – it is industrial and illegal fishing destroying the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Coastal fishing communities using artisanal methods have centuries of experience balancing their harvesting behaviour against available resources for long-term management. Once the fish stock is rebuilt, if fishing is once again permitted, it should be conducted in a sustainable manner that promotes the livelihoods of responsible artisanal fishermen.
In the meantime, strong demand from Japan has fueled industrial and illegal fishing practices that have pushed the species to the brink of economic extinction – effectively disenfranchising sustainable artisanal fishermen in the process. The Japanese food industry alone imported amounts of Atlantic bluefin tuna almost equalling the entire 2008 quota, and Japan is not the only market driving the demand that far outpaces supply.
Its time our politicians did the right thing.
Learn more in our fact sheet: Bluefin Tuna: A Devastating Delicacy