Say Goodbye to Bluefin Tuna

Yet another international meeting goes by on the fate of marine life and nothing is done, except some finger pointing. It looks like Japan has been under-reporting its bluefin tuna catch. In other words, it has been catching more than it should be:

Conservation groups say an international commission's failure to prevent overfishing of the southern bluefin tuna is driving the species closer to extinction.

Wildlife trade-monitoring network Traffic and conservation body WWF said today the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna's (CCSBT) annual meeting in Canberra at the weekend made no significant progress in preventing the overharvesting of the internationally popular table fish.

"The meeting became embroiled in discussions that went round and round in circles getting nowhere, Traffic spokesman Glenn Sant said in a statement.

"The southern bluefin tuna stock is at historically-low levels with less than 10 per cent of the virgin stock left.

"Reviews conducted by the commission have shown massive over-catch by a member, yet Japan has continued to ensure that any finger pointing to those responsible is locked up in confidentiality."

Traffic said overfishing was driving the species further towards extinction.

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