Severe overfishing of the Bluefin Tuna are pushing the breed close to extinction, with reports revealing nearly three times the recommended quota being netted per year. Limits imposed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), claim that nearly half the current Mediterranean Tuna fishing fleet needs to be docked to save the species from extinction.
“The absurdity of this system is long out of control, with hundreds of hi-tech boats racing to catch only a handful of fish. Decisions must be bold if the bluefin is to be saved from a sorry fate – and for any chance of a future for Mediterranean Tuna fishermen.” said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at the World Wildlife Fund.
Due to the size of the fishing fleets, at least 42,000 tonnes of tuna needs to be caught each year. This also happens to be 13,000 tonnes OVER the legislated limit! These figures themselves could be way under how much Tuna is actually being netted, with these figures not including local trawlers operating outside the restrictions.
ICCAT (The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna) are being called upon by the WWF to make radical changes to Mediterranean shipping limits, or the Bluefin Tuna will soon face complete extinction. The next meeting of ICCAT is taking place in Tokyo, Japan from 26-27 March.
As an avid tuna eater, it’s a sorry state of affairs not just for the breed itself, but also for the men who’s livelihoods depend on that specific catch. There are many ways we can ease the Bluefin Tuna’s plight, namely not ordering or eating in the sushi restaurants that still insist on serving the delicacy. Bluefin Tuna is the most favoured breed used in Japanese sushi, due to it’s distinctive flavour. But beware if you do eat Sushi in Japan and it looks a little bit, shall we say, ‘un-Tuna-ary’. During an ocean poisoning scare in 1973, one restaurant owner with no Tuna to sell ended up serving smoked deer and raw horse sushi!
