Their decision is appallingly a direct contradiction of their name. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna. Key word: conservation. So why is it that after the ICCAT’s scientists specifically warned them about the endangerment of the bluefin tuna, the organization is still insisting on fishing them? It makes absolutely no sense.
An article on mongabay.com, a very detailed, well-known site high in conservationist content, says that the ICCAT dropped their quota from 19,500 to 13,500, despite researchers saying that they should ban it altogether. The researchers claim that only a zero catch limit could give the tuna the amount of time it needs to recover in order to exist in the future. It appears, however, that the organization is more interested in short-term gains rather than the long-term sustainability of the bluefin. Cutting quotas by a mere 6,000 will not help the tuna in any way, especially given that history shows the amount of tuna caught is usually twice the number that is set.
Bluefin Tuna
Earlier this year, the WWF released a report saying that the Atlantic bluefin tuna only has about 3 more years before becoming extinct if it is still fished at the current rates, meaning that if the ICCAT doesn’t change this quick, the tuna is sure to be a goner. That being sad, Monaco has asked that the species be placed under Appendix I on the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which would make it illegal to catch any bluefin tuna. This will be formally addressed early next year, and hopefully, they succeed in placing tuna on that list. Being on that list appears to be the tuna’s last chance, otherwise, it looks like they are headed for trouble.
Personally, I think that the ICCAT should change their name. It doesn’t look like they’re concerned about doing any real conserving, and therefore they should not be allowed to wear a false heroic badge. People who think they are working towards conserving tuna are being disastrously lead astray. Just saying. What do you say? Is this incredibly irresponsible and hypocritical of them or am I too full of zeal?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Maryline, your words are spot on…IRRESPONSIBLE and HYPOCRITICAL !!! This is insane, I don’t understand what people are thinking especially when the data is sitting right in front of them. Just check out Mike Crispino’s site for the ISSF, http://www.iss-foundation.org/tunasciencereport, and it becomes overwhelmingly obvious that blue fin are going to be gone…probably forever. Blue fin MUST be put on the endangered species list.
It is crazy how any other land species would be put on the endangered species list and protected by governments, yet the blue fin tuna is on the cusp of extinction and very little is being done…and the people who are supposed to be doing something, such as ICCAT, are not doing much.