The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) concluded its 14th meeting, but failed to take any significant action to safeguard the fish stocks and other marine life it was established to manage and conserve says TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network and WWF.
“The Commission was unable to make any significant progress in preventing the overharvesting of southern bluefin tuna that is driving the species further towards extinction,†said Glenn Sant, TRAFFIC’s Global Marine Program Leader.
“The meeting became embroiled in discussions that went round and round in circles getting nowhere,†said Sant.
The southern bluefin tuna stock is at historically low levels with less than 10 per cent of the virgin stock left.
Reviews conducted by the Commission have shown massive over catch by a member, yet Japan has continued to ensure that any finger pointing to those responsible is locked up in confidentiality.
A WWF report released in advance of the meeting was also highly critical of the way the Commission has routinely failed to deal with species incidentally killed during the fisheries operations.
“The Commission also failed to agree on anything related to minimizing bycatch of albatrosses, petrels, sharks and marine turtles,†said Lorainne Hitch, WWF spokesperson for Sustainable Fisheries.
“They were unable to agree on even the most fundamental aspects of bycatch management such as data collection. It is unacceptable that the unregulated and unsustainable catch of these species can be allowed to continue because Japan does not consider measures to reduce bycatch can be made binding by CCSBT. It’s just a blocking tactic so as not to have to act,†she added.
For the first time non-governmental organization (NGO) observers were allowed in to witness the CCBST proceedings.
“Allowing NGO observers was a positive step in lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding southern bluefin tuna management,†said Sant, adding that is was hard to believe it had taken 14 years to come about.
“At least now everyone can see what the problems are and who is failing to take action to address them.â€
According to TRAFFIC and WWF, the broader conservation community should be seeking action from government leaders and industry to tackle overfishing and marine bycatch, and to ensure the sustainability of southern bluefin tuna stocks.
Source: WWF Press Release