Illegal wildlife trade! 
...Illegal wildlife trade...
Scientists who advise fisheries regulators support a ban on trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna, a sushi staple, to protect the species from over-fishing, environmental groups WWF and Greenpeace said Thursday.
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas scientists concluded that the species' "current spawning biomass
is less than 15 percent of what it once was before fishing began, meaning Atlantic bluefin tuna meets the criteria for a CITES Appendix I listing," they said in a statement.
An Appendix I listing by CITES, the United Nations agency against illegal wildlife trade, would mean a total ban on international trade in bluefin tuna.
"Further the scientists' analyses confirmed that a suspension of commercial fishing is the only measure with a substantial chance of ensuring that the stock no longer meets the criteria for CITES Appendix I by 2019," the statement added.
Contacted by AFP, the ICCAT, whose headquarters is in Spain, was not immediately available to confirm the report.
ICCAT scientists met in Madrid last week to discuss their findings, which will be taken into account by national governments and environmental protection agencies to base their restrictions on capturing bluefin tuna.
Last week the European Union gave its provisional backing for a worldwide ban on bluefin tuna fishing, which would throw the huge market for Japanese sushi into turmoil.
Atlantic bluefin tuna are mainly caught from countries around the Mediterranean Sea, but most of the meat is consumed in Asia, particularly Japan.
Some 80 percent of Atlantic bluefin tuna fished out of the Mediterranean ends up in the Japanese market.
The next ICCAT meeting is scheduled for November in Recife in Brazil.
by Staff Writers
Madrid (AFP) Oct 29, 2009
Sources:
Scientists back bluefin tuna trade ban: Greenpeace and WWF
SEEDDAILY seeddaily.com
SUNKEA Japanese market sunkea.com
KERACONTROLS
Current spawning biomass keracontrols.com
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 15:34 on November 1st, 2009
This story has been taken from another source. In future, please use the highlight tool to quote material from external sources.
at 06:24 on November 2nd, 2009
Hi, Jon Azpiri
Thank you.
Simples.
at 06:40 on November 2nd, 2009
Its not only the bluefin tuna even worse the red tuna that is fished beyond extinction yet, because of the large demand from Japan for their sushi meals. Try to change that!
at 13:51 on November 2nd, 2009
Comissão Europeia apoia o fim do comércio internacional de atum azul
Cardume de atum azul no Mediterrâneo.
10 de Setembro de 2009 Aumentar a Imagem
Bélgica — Espécie ameaçada de extinção pela má gestão da pesca ganha aliados na Europa
A Comissão Europeia decidiu esta semana apoiar a proibição do comércio internacional do atum azul no Atlântico Norte e Mediterrâneo. A Comissão pede que o atum azul seja classificado como uma espécie ameaçada nos termos da Convenção do Comércio Internacional de Espécies Ameaçadas de Extinção (CITES). Essa classificação iria suspender de forma efetiva o comércio internacional dessa espécie de atum até que a espécie aumente sua população.
“As populações de atum azul caíram para níveis criticamente baixos. Quem é contra a proposta de proibição está colocando claramente os interesses comerciais de curto prazo acima da sobrevivência da espécie," disse Saskia Richartz, do Greenpeace.
A proposta de listar o atum azul como uma espécie em vias de extinção foi originalmente apresentada pelo principado de Mônaco em julho, à Comissão Internacional para a Conservação de Atuns e a fins do Atlântico (ICCAT), em resposta a populações criticamente baixas e que sofrem com a sobrepesca.
O Presidente francês Nicolas Sarkozy conduziu discursos de apoio a proposta de Mônaco. Vários outros países da União Europeia (UE), incluindo o Reino Unido, Países Baixos, Alemanha, Polônia e Áustria, também influenciaram a decisão. “O atum azul se tornou ameaçado devido à gestão vergonhosa da pesca pela União Europeia. A suspensão do comércio é o último recurso, e ele apenas nos dá o tempo necessário para que os países ponham ordem em sua gestão de pesca”, completa Richartz.
“O Brasil deve emitir sua posição favorável a proposta de Mônaco, seguir a decisão da União Européia e apoiar o fim do comércio do atum azul”, comenta Leandra Gonçalves, do Greenpeace.
A implementação de uma Política Nacional dos Oceanos, que defina o ordenamento da atividade pesqueira e com a proibição de redes de arrasto, fiscalização eficiente, mecanismos de certificação do pescado é fundamental para zelar pela proteção do oceano que banha a costa brasileira. Além disso, o Greenpeace acredita que 30% da costa brasileira deve ser delimitada com áreas marinhas protegidas, que visam não só a conservação da biodiversidade mas também o combate ao aquecimento global – já que os oceanos possuem a capacidade de absorver pelo menos 30% do CO2 gerado pelas atividades humanas. Atualmente, apenas 0,4% de nossa zona costeira e marinha encontra-se protegida, ainda que não implementada.
ESPECIE AMEAÇADA DE EXTINÇÃO...
at 13:47 on November 2nd, 2009
Captive Tuna in Mediterranean + Comissão Europeia apoia o fim do comércio internacional de atum azul = Cardume de atum azul no Mediterrâneo.
File photo of captive bluefin tuna inside a transport cage...Greenpeace welcomes the European Commission?s decision today to support a ban on the international trade of North Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna...The Commission is calling for bluefin tuna to be classified as an endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This classification would effectively suspend the international trade in bluefin tuna until the species is no longer threatened with extinction... Photo -...by Gavin Newman / Greenpeace.
ESPECIE AMEAÇADA DE EXTINÇÃO...
at 08:37 on November 16th, 2009
The Mediterranean bluefin tuna is on the brink of collapse, lash out Greenpeace and WWF. (Photo: Greenpeace)
Mediterranean bluefin tuna under threat from poaching
Friday, November 13, 2009, 17:30 (GMT + 9)
Two green organisations this Wednesday denounced the poaching of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean, an activity they contend threatens the survival of the species. They are calling for a temporary suspension on the fishery.
Based on a study authored this year by experts of the independent consultant ATRT, Greenpeace and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) issued a statement in which they express their concern over “the extremely high percentage of fishing targeting bluefin juveniles (smaller than the legal size permitted at the time of capture) in the Mediterranean.”
The market for those units are the “fattening farms” located in the sea, where fish are fattened before being sold -- mainly to Japan -- where they are consumed raw in the form of ‘sushi.’
“All the data indicates the imminent risk of collapse” of the species in the Mediterranean, contends Celia Ojeda, head of Greenpeace Oceans in an official statement. “At this point, the closing of the fishery and the protection of its breeding zones are the only solutions, until the fishery shows evident signs of recovery,” she added.
Both NGOs are asking the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), for the time being reunited near Recife (northeast Brazil), for “the adoption of extraordinary measures.”
According to the study mentioned by the two NGOs, “the case of Spain is the most alarming, since, 46 per cent of the bluefin tuna sold fresh between July 2008 and May 2009 on the Japanese market, originating from fattening farms, were juveniles when fished,” meaning they had not as yet been able to breed.
With the study in mind, the organisations affirm that, “between 8.4 per cent and 21.09 per cent of the bluefin tuna fattened in the Mediterranean and sold fresh on the Japanese market were smaller than the legal catch size at the time of capture.”
“The scientists [of the ICCAT] contended in October that only 15 per cent of the original population of bluefin tuna remains, and that the new data on sizes demonstrate that the fishery continues out of control,” Raul Garcia, head of WWF Fisheries of Spain, indicated in a statement.
For that reason, he demanded the “temporary closing” of the fishery and “a prohibition” on international trade.
The ICCAT warned recently against “partial interpretations” made by “several organisations” based on their scientific report from October.
AFP
Related articles:
- In search of a future for bluefin tuna
- NGO lambasts Japan’s role in bluefin tuna delay
- Scientists support Atlantic bluefin tuna trade ban
Photo Courtesy of FIS Member
Greenpeace International -Headquarter - Netherlands 
Source:
www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?l=e&ndb=1&...
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at 08:40 on November 16th, 2009
A bluefin tuna marked for auction. (Photo: WWF)
NGO lambasts Japan’s role in bluefin tuna delay
Monday, November 02, 2009, 23:10 (GMT + 9)
The conservation organisation Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) has claimed that a report authored by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) was kept quiet for more than one week due to pressure from Japan.
In said document, scientists concluded that the population of bluefin tuna could fall to less than 15 per cent of its original size, with which the species would fulfil the criterion to enter Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Sergi Tudela. (Photo: WWF)
In so doing, experts acknowledge the necessity to fix a prohibition on the international trade of bluefin tuna to preserve stocks, which are in decline.
The WWF, however, has affirmed that the report became public only in late October, although it had been ready 10 days before, Publico reports.
This delay was spurred by “the pressure exerted by Japan’s delegate,” which asked for the information to be kept quiet until the Commission’s next meeting on 9 November, revealed the director of the WWF Fishing Programme for the Mediterranean, Sergi Tudela.
“Japan silenced the data to prevent the Commission from being pressured to protect the tuna,” Tudela added.
Between 6 and 16 November in Brazil, ICCAT delegates will decide whether or not they set forth new restrictions for the fishing of the species.
The next CITES conference is scheduled for March 2010.
Related article:
- Scientists support Atlantic bluefin tuna trade ban
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
Source
www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?l=e&id=34409&...
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at 19:45 on November 17th, 2009
Time magazine singled out Clean Sea Tuna for its achievement in successfully breeding bluefin tuna in capitivity. (Photo: Clean Seas)
Time commends Clean Seas for its bluefin tuna
Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 03:50 (GMT + 9)
Time magazine has declared Clean Seas Tuna Ltd’s successful breeding of southern bluefin tuna in captivity the second best invention of 2009.
Time called the advance second only to "the best and smartest and coolest thing built in 2009,” NASA's Ares 1 rocket, in the magazine’s list of its 50 Best Inventions of 2009 from all over the globe. The aquaculture company also beat the AIDS vaccine.
Clean Seas was rated for the breakthrough that took place in March at its Arno Bay hatchery on Eyre Peninsula, Adelaide Now reports.
"At 8:47AM on 12 March, fish history happened in Port Lincoln, Australia," Time wrote. "A tankful of southern bluefin tuna began to spawn, and they didn't stop for more than a month."
"By coaxing the notoriously fussy southern bluefin to breed in landlocked tanks, Clean Seas may finally have given the future of bluefin aquaculture legs (or at least a tail)," it continued.
The international recognition of Clean Seas Chairman Hagen Stehr's achievement was welcomed by his team and collaborators.
"We are excited by its commercial potential and the potential to provide a sustainable source of quality seafood for a protein hungry world - particularly at a time when wild tuna stocks are under threat from over-fishing," Stehr said.
"Our achievement is a world first and a major stepping stone to presenting the world with a sustainable food resource for the future," he stated.
Last month, the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) decided on a 20 per cent-fall in the global catch quota for the wild fish over 2010-11. Australia's share will skid from 5,265 to 4,015 tonnes, or by 23.4 per cent.
More recently, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) cut the annual quota for Atlantic bluefin tuna by 40 per cent.
Clean Seas will begin commercially breeding southern bluefin tuna over the next few months.
Related articles:
- Clean Seas optimistic about tuna catch cut
- Clean Seas breaking new ground 'every day'
By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com