Fishy business
March 10, 2010
Europe's big fishing economies have all backed an EU decision to ban trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna to help preserve stocks of the species.
The European Union will join the US to argue in favor of an international ban despite objections from one of its smallest member states, Malta.
France, Spain and Italy, which together land half of the world's total catch, all agreed to the decision, which will not come into force until next year. The idea of a ban has already provoked anger from Japan, the largest consumer of the fish.
EU ambassadors met on Wednesday to agree on a European stance ahead of a weekend meeting of the United Nations body that lists endangered species.
Talks to preserve species
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species will meet in Qatar to consider restrictions on trade in a number of species, including African elephants and polar bears.
The decision to ban the trade in bluefin tuna is not likely to have an effect on the average supermarket consumer. Bluefin tuna is used as a top-price ingredient in the preparation of sushi and sashimi dishes, with an individual fish able to fetch up to 120,000 euros ($164,000) at auction.
Scientists say stocks of the fish have fallen by more than 80 percent over the last 40 years, to around 3.2 million.
Compensation for fishermen
Europe now faces complicated negotiations on compensation for fishermen. The ban will not affect small-scale "artisanal" fishing for fish to be sold within the EU.
Japan's Deputy Fisheries Minister Masahiko Yamada said last week his country would ignore any restrictions on tuna.
In a bid to protect the elephant, the EU has also opposed any resumption of the international ivory trade. A nine-year ban on ivory sales was agreed to in 2007, but Tanzania and Zambia are accused of trying to resume the trade.
Ambassadors did not support an endangered listing to protect the polar bear. A diplomatic source told Reuters it was argued that a listing would not protect the animal from its greatest threat, climate change.
rc/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Martin Kuebler