Question....don't get mad....

[KP161]

If it does go CITES and the U.S. keeps killing the same amount of fish and selling domestic and also a rec fishery. And then all the other Med countires do the same...sell domestic in their countries nothing has changed as far as the number of tuna killed. Then throw in the countries that oppose Cites and sell to Japan as well as the black market fish shipped to Japan for $2-5lb more than now since the U.S. supply is gone. Doesn't make sense. This scenario just does not add up to protect the fish. They will then look to shut down law abiding domestic fisheries in each country in an attempt to try to protect the fish. They are heading down the wrong path if their motive is truly to protect bluefin tuna.

[stew]

Bottom line.... any win for the "greenies" is a huge loss for the US fisherman.. rec., comm., chb, it's all bad. Some of the fishing groups that have come out in favor of this have only done so because they view it as a commercial fishing issue only and they think it will stop the over fishing in the Med. They have all been mis-lead. But many of these groups have the elitest view that we should all just catch and release fish anyway, which in my world is total BS!!! Guys, please make sure you have sent some money in on this. Do not be fooled or mislead that this is in any way a good thing for the US fisherman or even the fish. I have sent $350 in the last two weeks and another $100 is going out today. One point about imported tuna, we do import alot of tuna but any bluefin that gets imported into this country comes in as low grade frozen "tuna". What we export is high grade, fresh, sashimi and sushi grade quality. Huge differance. For a time "Boston Bluefin" was a prized fish in Japan, and still is in some views. The domestic market for high grade, fresh, bluefin tuna is very,very, limited and this comes straight from the buyers and from personal knowledge. Do not be confused by those issues. Trust me if the buyers thought the domestic market could handle it then they would be all over it. Even when the prices were down last season they were better on a shipped fish than a domestic fish on the average. The prices being down had everything to do with the depressed global economy and not the fish. What really gets me is the vast majority of our elected senators from fishing states have come out against the CITIES listing but a few appointed officials have decided that we, the USA as a whole, should be for it. If that doesn't go up your ass side ways then what will. I would like to be a fly on the wall when the good senator from Maine, Ms. Snowe has her chance behind closed doors because she is one upset lady and one who has always been on our side. It's not over yet until the vote is cast. Please send some money to the ABTA. Thanks. Capt. Eric

[KP161]

One point about imported tuna, we do import alot of tuna but any bluefin that gets imported into this country comes in as low grade frozen "tuna". What we export is high grade, fresh, sashimi and sushi grade quality. Huge differance. For a time "Boston Bluefin" was a prized fish in Japan, and still is in some views. The domestic market for high grade, fresh, bluefin tuna is very,very, limited and this comes straight from the buyers and from personal knowledge.

Good point & very true.

Right now for the most part the better sushi restaurants in the U.S. use high end imported yellowfin tuna and sometimes imported bigeye. The wholesalers buy these fish typically for $4-7lb. In my opinion bluefin will have to compete at these price levels to get the business. Sure some people will pay $0.50-$1 lb more for higher quality bluefin but beyond that forget it. People will just stick with what's working at the cheaper price. The U.S. consumer just doesn't have the taste for the higher end and fattier bluefin. A japanese sushi restaurant is judged on their tuna. It's their cornerstone. Just not the case in the U.S.

So if you're talking $5-8lb to the wholesalers around the country the tuna buyer at the dock then has to take his cut. So I would guess $3-5lb back to the boat or something along those lines would be typical. And if the bite got strong I would think the price would drop pretty quickly.

Let's hope we don't have to find out. A CITES listing just does not make sense to protect the fish.