Japan says it would ignore bluefin tuna ban
Japan said today it would ignore any ban on international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna, a proposal that has won US support ahead of a crucial vote next month.
The ban, meant to save the species from extinction, has the support of many European nations - but not Malta - and is opposed by Japan, which consumes three quarters of the global catch of bluefin tuna, a species much valued in sushi and sashimi.
"The situation is becoming more difficult for Japan," said the vice fisheries minister Masahiko Yamada, ahead of a March 13-25 meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
"Japan will inevitably have to take a reservation" if the body votes for a trade ban at the meeting in the Qatari capital Doha, he said.
Member countries which take a "reservation" would effectively be able to keep trading with other nations that also opt out of the ban.
Tokyo says it prefers other ways to make the catch more sustainable.
In November, Japan said it supported a 40 percent quota cut agreed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
The body agreed to slash the total catch in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean from 22,000 tons in 2009 to 13,500 tons this year.
Environmentalists say industrial fleets routinely exceed such limits.
Monaco has spearheaded the drive for a ban, which enjoys strong support from Britain and Germany, but is opposed by Spain, Greece and Malta, which all have significant tuna industries.
France, the biggest producer of bluefin tuna for consumption, has spoken in favour of a ban, but for a limited duration and not for another 18 months.
Other countries believed to be opposed to a ban include Canada and China.
A ban on the tuna trade would require support by two-thirds of the roughly 175 nations that make up CITES.
Bluefin stocks in the Western Atlantic have fallen by more than 80 percent from 1970 to 2007.
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Annalise Falzon
Mar 5th 2010, 00:19
Having just returned from a screening of the film The End of the Line - dealing with overfishing and its destructive impact, I was flabbergasted to hear some of the comments from the audience. Apart from some violent and loud interventions especially from the fishing/tuna penning sector - I was even more surprised to hear our Environment Minister's attempts to belittle the validity of protecting species via the CITES - Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species. Management was advocated instead - and where has there been any evidence of management of fish stock in these years of overfishing and subsidies? I would have rather hoped for a more positive attitude and at least show some goodwill to finally get things moving in protecting our coastal and marine areas with setting up of long promised Marine Protected Areas where the marine ecosystem is given some time to recover. It is high time that these are enacted locally and also internationally across the Mediterranean.
The film was screened locally thanks to Global Ocean, FOE and NTM and SJCAV:
www.endoftheline.com
Franco Farrugia
Mar 4th 2010, 20:01
Wow! For once, I agree with you! How right you are!
Anthony Grech
Mar 4th 2010, 18:46
laurence schembri maybe we should look at our own fine sitizens and how we take care of the sea and earth before we start complaining about the Japanesae. If I am not mistaken, our own fishermen are also against such a ban. Let's start at home.
Joseph V. Grech
Mar 4th 2010, 18:10
If Japan is fool enough to disregard world opinion on this issue then I personally certainly won't buy any more products made in Japan in retaliation. And I hopw other people will consider doing the same.
Hopefully Japanese leaders will listen to reason.
laurence schembri
Mar 4th 2010, 14:10
Just fish it out of the waters,when extinct, there will be no more arguments. the slaughter of the Dolphins is another barbaric act by Japan, and the Whaleing, Canada is not far off, with the clubbing exercise on Baby Seals, Norway doesn`t fare any better either, with the killing of Whales. Bring back Sauguel, the harpooner.