CITES update

[twofinbluna]

Sent out from ABTA:


American Bluefin Tuna Association

CITES Update February 17, 2010

A great deal of confusion exists with the conflicting international press articles on the European Community and individual European state public commentaries. Malta and Spain remain committed to an anti-CITES listing. France and Italy’s positions are not clear. They appear to be searching for an 18 month moratorium on bluefin tuna fishing without a CITES listing. If this is accomplished this may make both eligible for an EC financial subsidy. Japan has announced that they will take a formal “Reservation” or objection to any CITES 1 listing. This will leave the worlds largest market open to accept bluefin from other countries also taking such a “reservation”. Or worse, encouraging countries to resume Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated catches (i.e. black market), that which ICCAT has made great progress on limiting over the years.

The US position on CITES is unclear given an apparent impasse between US Fish and Wildlife and NOAA. There is intense pressure from extreme environmental groups and certain congressional offices. You can be assured of one fact and that is that ABTA is in the middle of the key battles.

The ABTA web site (WWW.theabta.com) is updated with anti-CITES letters from eastern seaboard state governments, please take the time to look them over, they represent a lot of ABTA work. Many of the letters that we have secured are publicly available and provide background argument opposing CITES. We are educating major bureaucracies on the potential and real long lasting damage to US bluefin fisheries and markets resulting from a CITES listing. ABTA is also active in legislative lobbing efforts on several other fronts, as these become successful we will update you.

I know we have asked for your financial support in the past and many of you have been very generous. Our fishery is under siege and if our enemies are successful, as well financed as they are, the fishery will be irreparably harmed for many, many years to come.

ABTA is in dire need of funds to continue this extremely expensive fight. We need representation at the CITES meeting in Doha, Quatar, this is a very expensive city and a costly place to get to. The end game is getting close and we need your help to finish. Please send donations and dues at this time to ABTA, PO Box 447, Salem, NH 03079.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 603-898-8862 or Ralph Pratt (781-589-0815) or Steve Weiner (978-764-363

Sincerely, Rich Ruais

[twofinbluna]

And today a big letter came out of Congress opposing the listing. See attached. ABTA can only help doing all this if we have the support of all you guys.

[twofinbluna]

For anyone naive enough to think CITES would do a damn thing to stop Japan or anyone else from importing bluefin, this story should put an end such thoughts:


Japan to ignore CITES

[FullStrikeAngler]

For anyone naive enough to think CITES would do a damn thing to stop Japan or anyone else from importing bluefin, this story should put an end such thoughts:


Japan to ignore CITES

Aint that the truth....they will probably say they are importing them for "research"

[chumtini]

Thanks for the update, TFB

[twofinbluna]

No problem, chum!

[amarshall]

Mass Bill Would Add Protections


http://www.bostonherald.com/business..._bluefin_tuna/

[wrap-check]

For anyone naive enough to think CITES would do a damn thing to stop Japan or anyone else from importing bluefin, this story should put an end such thoughts:


Japan to ignore CITES

So essentially this would mean the U.S. could no longer export, or probably fish for, Bluefin. While the rest of the world that has been doing the damage will continue to ship to Japan.

[amarshall]

So essentially this would mean the U.S. could no longer export, or probably fish for, Bluefin. While the rest of the world that has been doing the damage will continue to ship to Japan.

You got it....

Business as usual

[tomytuna]

amarshall....saw yr comment on Globe (socialist puke rag) site.....one atta boy for ya....Tommy