An electronic fish tracking system should be introduced to close loopholes allowing the illegal bluefin tuna trade, according to a sustainable fishing group.

Local NGO Fish4tomorrow yesterday called on the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna – currently holding a week-long meeting in Malta – to agree to close loopholes allowing the black market tuna trade.

The commission, an inter-governmental group focused on sustainable fishing, is meeting to decide on a number of conservation measures for tuna and “tuna-like species”. It had implemented a sustainability plan for bluefin tuna back in 2006 and has seen the species register an initial recovery after a rapid decline in the early 2000s.

Fish4tomorrow head George Camilleri yesterday said the way tuna was currently being monitored left a lot to be desired.

The current bluefin catch document system tracks fish as they are caught, transported, farmed, and traded on the world market.

There has been an effective way to stop this for some time

Mr Camilleri, however, believes the paper-based system has failed to fully address the problems of irregular fishing due to the ease with which such documents can be altered.

“There has been an effective way to stop this for some time – full implementation of the electronic bluefin catch documentation system,” he said.

Mr Camilleri wrote to the local fisheries directorate, urging them to push for the implementation of such a system. However, he said he had received little response.

Speaking during the opening of the conference on Tuesday, European Commissioner on Fisheries Karmenu Vella said he hoped to see a number of loopholes, which allowed for tuna overfishing, to be closed in the coming months.