Following is a news release from WWF, ABTA will provide more info after the conditions are examined. Don't though the rope over the beam yet!! Ralph

Subject: WWF Bluefin Tuna Bulletin 108 - EU backs international tradeban
Bluefin Tuna Bulletin #108
The voice of the bluefin - news from WWF Mediterranean on the bluefin
tuna fishery in crisis.
　
WWF Media Statement For immediate release, 10 March 2010
* * * All 27 EU countries to back Atlantic bluefin tuna international
trade ban * * *
Brussels, Belgium – WWF applauds the confirmation from European Union
member states that they will vote for a ban on international commercial
trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna during a meeting of the largest wildlife
trade convention starting this week.
The 27 EU members said today they would vote to list Atlantic bluefin
tuna on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES), joining a growing list of supporting
countries, including the United States of America.
"WWF welcomes the EU announcement, which will give this devastated
species the possibility to recover," said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of
Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean. "Other governments must back the ban
when they meet for CITES later this week."
"The EU is a major trade and development partner in many key regions of
the world, and some countries may have been hanging back on Atlantic
bluefin tuna to see what the Europeans would decide to do," Tudela said.
　
"With the two largest holders of bluefin tuna fishing quota on either
side of the Atlantic – the U.S. and EU – now supporting the trade ban,
other countries should follow suit," Dr Tudela said.
"Our only remaining concern is that we do not understand the continuing
need on the part of the EU for conditions to be attached to the Appendix
I listing. WWF believes this trade ban should be implemented
immediately, without conditions or delay.
"The EU must now push for widespread support of this proposal during the
CITES meeting."
The proposal to list Atlantic bluefin tuna on CITES Appendix I was
submitted by the Principality of Monaco in October. Atlantic bluefin
tuna is at serious risk of commercial extinction because of decades of
unsustainable and illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea, driven by
demand from Japan’s luxury seafood markets.
The eligibility of Atlantic bluefin tuna for the CITES Appendix I
listing proposal is backed by independent experts including a United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization panel, and the scientific
committee of the International Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the regional fisheries management organization
in charge of this fishery.
The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES
CoP 15) will take place March 13-25 in Doha, Qatar. The Convention is an
international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that
international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not
threaten their survival in the wild.
　
Note to editor: Footage, photos and other material media available at
www.panda.org/cites/media
* * *
Please see www.panda.org/tuna or contact WWF Mediterranean Programme for
further information.
Regards,
WWF