Fishing quota will lead to extinction of bluefin tuna, warn conservationists

Frank Pope, Ocean Correspondent
Conservationists have accused the organisation charged with ensuring the survival of the bluefin tuna of pushing the fish to extinction.
Members of the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) voted to allow 13,500 tonnes of tuna to be caught next year, which scientists say will lead to the disappearance of the fish from the Mediterranean within two years.
The European Union was blamed for having blocked plans at the Brazil conference for a moratorium on catching the fish in the Mediterranean.
According to members of the Pew Environment Group, the EU had been protecting the interests of the Spanish fishing fleet.
Susan Lieberman, director of international policy for Pew, said: “Only a zero catch limit could have maximised the chances that Atlantic bluefin tuna could recover to the point where the fishery could exist in the future.”
Since ICCAT was established 40 years ago the population of bluefin tuna has fallen by more than 75 per cent.
The fate of the fish now rests with the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, which could ban trade in bluefin when it meets in March.