Time to close Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery
Despite strong warnings from its own scientists, ICCAT refused to reduce fishing quotas significantly for Mediterranean bluefin tuna in November 2007.
Throwing science out the window makes no sense. If we’re to prevent an imminent collapse, a concerted effort is now essential to knock some sense into the countries cashing in on bluefin.
Immediate closure of the fishery
WWF is calling for a closure of the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery now, to gain control of the fishery and allow the species to recover and save it from collapse. “An immediate closure of the fishery is the only sure way to avoid collapse of Mediterranean bluefin tuna and provide for a sustainable fishery in the coming years,” says Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean.
Sustainable management tomorrow
Once the fishery is under control and on the way to recovery, management measures must be applied that are closely based on scientific advice – for a healthy fishery in the long term. “WWF supports the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks and wants to see a healthy Mediterranean bluefin fishery in years to come,” says WWF’s Sergi Tudela. “Any new management plan must include a seasonal closure in May, June and July, a total allowable catch per year of less than 15,000 tonnes, and tuna sanctuaries in main Mediterranean spawning areas.”
Reducing capacity of industrial fishing fleets
To correspond with scientific advice, the bloated capacity of Mediterranean tuna fleets must be significantly reduced. “The Mediterranean bluefin fiasco is the most scandalous case of fisheries mismanagement currently happening in the world,” says WWF’s Sergi Tudela. “Part of the farce is the gross overcapacity of the Mediterranean’s industrial tuna fleets, which must be cut dramatically to fit with sustainable fishing as dictated by science.”
Do the right thing
Quite simply, what we need is a sensible management plan for Mediterranean bluefin tuna that doesn’t drive the species to extinction. By following sound science and taking urgent action to prevent a disaster, governments can avoid presiding over the demise of one of the most magnificent fish that swims the ocean.
