UN wildlife body to mull bluefin tuna trade ban

A proposal to place Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna, a popular sushi staple, on the world's most endangered species list has been made to CITES, the UN wildlife trade organisation said last Wednesday.

The proposal tabled by Monaco, which could result in a ban in the international trade of the fish, will be considered during the meeting of the convention's 175 state members in Qatar next year, according to official documents seen by AFP.

However, it is unlikely to enjoy the full support of European Union countries, which in September voted down plans for the ban.

"All the countries around the Mediterranean came out against" any ban on trade in the fish, a European Union source said in September.

The EU has however, tabled a proposal to limit the trade of porbeagle sharks, or Lamna nasus, by calling for them to be added to Appendix II - a list of species that could become extinct if trade in the species is not tightly controlled.

"Unsustainable target fisheries for Lamna nasus in parts of its range have been driven by international trade demand for its high value meat," said the European Union in its submission.

"The meat and fins are of high quality and high value in international trade," it added, targeting North and Southwest Atlantic and Mediterranean stocks.

Demand for sharks' fins, a Chinese delicacy, has hurt stocks of such sharks.

CITES spokesman Juan Carlos Vasquez said the UN agency is expecting to receive a separate proposal on other shark species before the midnight Wednesday deadline for submissions to be sent for consideration during next year's meeting.

Other proposals submitted included those from Tanzania and Zambia which call for the African elephant to be downgraded from the list of most endangered species to Appendix II, thereby lifting a ban on ivory trade.

A proposal to limit trade of some coral species is also expected to be filed, added Vasquez.