5 April 2006
Australia An international conservation group has failed in its attempt to curb southern bluefin tuna fishing in Australian waters.
The Humane Society International (HSI), which claims the fishery is not sustainable, went to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to try to overturn a federal government decision declaring it a wildlife trade operation.
But the tribunal today rejected HIS’s application and affirmed the 2004 decision by Federal Environment Minister Senator Ian Campbell.
In a statement issued prior to the tribunal’s decision, HSI said southern bluefin tuna was considered critically endangered. “The latest scientific information shows there is a 50/50 chance the species will be extinct by 2030 if current fishing levels continue,†HSI said. The society will release a detailed response to the decision shortly.
In its judgment, the tribunal affirmed Senator Campbell’s 2004 reliance on the Australian Fisheries Management Authority’s assessment that the current take was not detrimental to the survival of southern bluefin tuna.
â€Principles governing the fishery are that the fishery is conducted in a manner that does not lead to overfishing and (is) managed to minimize impact on function and biological diversity of the ecosystem,†the tribunal said. “The tribunal can rely on this assessment.â€
The highly valued fish are in serious decline worldwide and Australia and other countries began self-imposed fishing limits in the 1980s.
Australia was set an annual take limit of 5,265 tons in 1989, which has not changed since.
The Australian government's threatened species advisory body says the southern bluefin is overfished and meets one criterion for being listed as an endangered species.
But the Threatened Species Scientific Committee also says granting endangered species protection status might impact on Australia’s negotiations for an overall reduction of the global quota.
A South Australian fishing group has said an endangered species listing would be catastrophic to its members, who staunchly defend the sustainability of the tuna resource.
