The European Parliament today voiced its support for a trade ban on blue fin tuna.

However, MEPs called for financial compensation for the tuna fishing sector that would be affected.

In today's resolution, adopted by show of hands, MEPs urge the Commission and the EU Member States to ban the international trade in blue fin tuna subject to the following conditions:

• a general derogation for domestic trade, allowing traditional coastal fishing to continue;

• EU financial support for seafarers and vessel owners affected;

• tighter controls and tougher penalties to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The resolution, which also deals with polar bears, tigers, sharks, crocodiles, corals and other species of fauna and flora, comes ahead of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), that takes place in Doha in March. Parliament's Environment Committee will be sending a delegation to the conference.

The Council is expected to take a decision on the EU's position on February 26.

CITES is the largest global wildlife conservation agreement, preventing the over-exploitation of wild fauna and flora through international trade, with 175 parties, including the 27 EU Member States. CITES Appendix I lists species threatened with extinction for which international trade is prohibited and Appendix II lists species for which trade must be controlled.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.