Ecologists call for indefinite closure of bluefin tuna fishery

SPAIN
Thursday, December 23, 2010, 23:00 (GMT + 9)

The Spanish organization, Ecologists in Action, has called upon the Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM) to make arrangements with the European Union (EU) for a moratorium on fishing for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the Gulf of Cadiz and the Mediterranean.

In a letter to the authorities of Marmara, the NGO says the indefinite closure of the bluefin fishery must be made within the EU.

They also expressed the need to promote agreements with coastal countries of North Africa to implement the ban urgently.

Ecologists in Action claims that over the past 15 years, 500,000 tonnes of illegally caught bluefin tuna, with earnings of around USD 4,000 million, according to a report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

For ecologists, it reveals the mismanagement of the past 30 years, with "careless reporting, fraud and lack of respect for science" which together with illegal fishing, caused a decline in populations of this species of up to 85 per cent since 1970.

Also, the Spanish NGO argues that there is "a clear lack of adequate means of control on this fishery, as well as the systematic failure of the recovery plan of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

Ecologists in Action decided to make this request to the Spanish Government after the "expected failure" of the last meeting of the ICCAT.

There, they decided to cut only a 4.4 per cent share of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean in 2011 (600 tonnes).

According to ICCAT, the fleet can catch 12,900 tonnes next year, which "is a step closer to permanently condemnation of the species to extinction," the letter from the Ecologists read.

In addition, for environmentalists, this resolution ignores scientific recommendations for safe recovery of the population by 2022.

For these reasons, the environmental association decided to send a letter to the four administrations representing the Spanish fishing fleet (central government and governments of Andalusia, the Basque Country and Catalonia), to intercede in this situation.

The organization also highlights the crisis that is the artisanal fishing fleet, and requests that the "reconverted industrial fleet that has damaged populations both of this species, and others, should now attempt to fish in a rational form."

It also raises the need to ensure "the survival of ancient practices and selectivity in the catches of bluefin tuna such as the almadraba (trap net fishing) in the Strait of Gibraltar."

In addition, another environmental organization, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), called for "citizens to commit themselves to the sea, by avoiding the most threatened species such as bluefin tuna, eel, caviar from wild sturgeon and turbot" during the upcoming holiday season.

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By Silvina Corniola
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com