Bluefin tuna, a favourite sushi and sashimi fish, is getting the backing of many European Union (EU) nations to be added to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) endangered species list at the next month’s meeting  in Doha, Qatar.

This move is being opposed by Japan, the world’s biggest consumer of the bluefin tuna with around 80% consumption.

The fish which has seen soaring prices of as high as US$120,000 in recent times and produces ‘toro’, a fatty meat that is considered a mouth-watering delicacy, has reached below 15% of its historical level and has been included on this year’s list of most threatened species.

Marine wildlife experts say that despite stricter fishing quotas, bluefin tuna stocks have plunged by 80% in recent times, getting close to extinction, in the Western Atlantic and Mediterranean. Experts also believe that a delayed response in levying the ban would lead to more fishing as Japan and other major processors start saving for the future, in case the ban goes through.

EU nations, including France, the biggest producer of bluefin tuna, are hoping to raise the fish’s endangered status and introduce a ban on international trade. However, there’s no unanimous stand as, apart from Japan, other EU nations like Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Malta are opposing this ban. A formal proposal of ban requires approval of two- thirds of the 175 CITES member nations.

“It’s disappointing,” said Sue Lieberman, director of international policy at the Pew Environmental Group. “If you agree a species is endangered, then you don’t allow a free-for-all.”

Even though France has proposed a limited duration ban to get into effect after 18 months, Japan has cited the inflexibility of the CITES as the reason for opposing the ban.

Masanori Miyahara, Japan’s top delegate to CITES, believes that once a species has been added to the CITES list, it doesn’t get removed; an unnecessary move since, according to him, bluefin tuna is not endangered to that extent.

Miyahara proposes that a different organisation like International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) should manage Bluefin Tuna catches and protection.

He solidifies Japans stand by adding that if the fish manages to find itself on the endangered species list, Japan “would have no choice but to take a reservation”, in effect, it will ignore the ban.

Another topic of debate at next month’s CITES meeting.

The meeting has a list of key agendas on its rooster such as tiger conservation. We’ll keep you posted.

by Pallavi Malhotra

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