As the CITES conference approaches, there is no doubt the Bluefin Tuna is in serious trouble.  The species is facing extinction.  Without serious intervention, the oceans may run out of Bluefin in just few years time.  It is being over-fished into extinction because of the seemingly unstoppable demand.

Japan – j’accuse

Japan is the biggest consumer of Bluefin in the world.  The world’s biggest importer and consumer of marine products, Japan consumes 80% of Bluefin caught in the Mediterranean.

Japan has consistently and constantly blocked conservation moves in CITES.  Not surprisingly, the world’s most powerful fish-eating nation has opposed every single proposal to list marine species on the CITES appendices.  Instead, Japan claims that the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is the forum for protecting the Bluefin.

Many observers, fisheries and conservationists have referred to ICCAT as the “international conspiracy to catch all tuna” for the organisation’s use of questionable research and turning a blind eye to member nations flouting the rules.  Although the legal bluefin catch is set at 22,000 tonnes, conservationists suspect the actual catch is 60,000 tonnes, four times the maximum recommended by marine scientists.

Where there’s a buyer, there’s sellers

As an obvious consequence to the demand by a wealthy and powerful buyer, the Bluefin fishing nations have found a bonanza.  We have the perfect meeting of a voracious demand with a ready supply.  Malta had fought against a Bluefin ban in the European Union, but was outvoted by other member states.  Countries such as Malta claim it is their right and a vital source for their livelihood.  The Japanese state it is their right to their culture and to their traditional diet.  This sagging defence of has long been used by the Japanese not only for Bluefin consumption but for many other destructive ocean practices.

Pointing the finger at the culprits

We need more than a few conscientious celebrity sushi objectors in London and New York to save the Bluefin. EVERYONE has to recognise this serious threat to a species – including consumers in the big consuming nations like Japan.  On the legislative and policy front, until something concrete and binding is done, things look very bleak for the Bluefin.

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