Italy's illegal fishing threatens tuna species - WWF

Italy overshot its quota of bluefin tuna last year by five times, showing that rules meant to save the giant fish from extinction were failing, the conservationist group WWF said in a report yesterday.

WWF said Italy was 700 tonnes over quota and has a fishing fleet capable of landing twice what it is legally allowed.

"Italy's illegal activity in the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery is not just a threat to this magnificent species, but also jeopardises the future of those trying to fish this resource in a sustainable and legal way," said Michele Candotti of WWF, formerly the World Wildlife Fund.

Italy has launched legal proceedings against the European Commission for curtailing the hunting season and says it did not reach its tuna quota this year due to the European ban which also applies to Cyprus, France, Greece, Malta and Spain.

The EC said in June that some Italian tuna fishing vessels exceeded their quota by between 100 and 240 per cent this year.

Bluefin tuna are known for their huge size, power and speed, with maximum weights recorded in excess of 600 kilos. Since last year, market prices for the delicacy have tripled: In Japan a single fish can cost up to $100,000.

WWF analysed trade data and used aerial surveys to monitor Italian fishing activities. It says spotter planes were regularly used to help fish the tuna - a practice which has been outlawed, and that many Italian tuna catches were not recorded.

WWF said it would present its findings to the Commission and to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which sets quotas and is due to meet next in November to review conservation measures.

WWF is calling for a moratorium on bluefin tuna hunting to allow stocks to recover from what it says are levels that endanger the species' survival.

It is also asking consumers, retailers and restaurants to boycott the fish which is a prized delicacy, especially in sushi and sashimi dishes where cuts are often known as toro or maguro.