July 30th, 1997
(en español)
Sydney, Australia -- Southern Bluefin Tuna populations could be at risk
of commercial extinction in the Southern Oceans if fishing continues at
current levels, according to a new report by TRAFFIC Oceania, the
wildlife trade monitoring programme of WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature
and IUCN-The World Conservation Union.
Supported by the WWF Endangered Seas Campaign, the report, A
Review of the Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery: Implications for
Ecologically Sustainable Management, documents how the number of
mature fish is now believed to be at the lowest levels recorded, and well
below a biologically safe level. Bluefin Tuna are caught primarily for the
luxury Japanese sashimi trade. They are also among the most valuable
fish targeted on the high seas.
The report's release comes little more than one month before the next
meeting of the Commission of the Convention for the Conservation of
Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), where the need for stricter catch
restrictions should be discussed. There are differing views as to when
the parental population will recover. Australia, Japan and New Zealand
are the three major fishing nations and to date the only CCSBT member
countries. However, so far they have failed to develop a joint
management plan for the fishery.
"The status of the Southern Bluefin Tuna parental population is now less
than 9 per cent of that in 1960," said Glenn Sant, TRAFFIC Oceania
Senior Research Officer. "Given the serious implications that a collapse
in the stock would have on the species, ecosystem and fishing industry,
we need to adopt a precautionary approach. The total annual catch, now
set at 11,750 tonnes, should be reduced by 35 per cent to help ensure
the number of breeding fish return to safe levels by the year 2020."
Of additional concern is the increasing catch by non-member countries.
At least 10 other countries catch Southern Bluefin Tuna, particularly
Taiwan, Indonesia and South Korea. Indonesia's recent annual catch
included 700 tonnes taken from the Southern Bluefin Tuna's sole
spawning grounds, located off the coast of Java.
Discussions are under way between the CCSBT Commission and
representatives of these three non-member countries and territories, but
negotiations about exactly how much Southern Bluefin Tuna each new
signatory could catch are a major part of this process. South Korea,
which supplies the Japanese market as well as a rapidly increasing
domestic demand of its own, has indicated a willingness to consider
joining, while Indonesia has stated that it would not do so for another
year. In a positive move, Taiwan, which cannot join the Convention
because of its political status, recently agreed to limit its annual catch.
As Southern Bluefin Tuna are highly migratory, the co-operation of many
nations and strong international catch restraint are now essential if the
fishery is to rebuild to safe and sustainable levels.
"Every effort should be made to encourage fishing nations to accede to
or co-operate with the goals of the Convention," Sant said. "Current
conservation efforts are greatly undermined by Japan's import of
Southern Bluefin Tuna from nations which are not party to the
Convention. Japan should suspend this practice until these nations join
the Convention."
-- Ends --
For more information, contact Glenn Sant for TRAFFIC Oceania, tel ++ 61
2 9299 6582 or Bobbie Jo Kelso for TRAFFIC International, tel. ++ 44 1223
277427.