Posted on November, 24 2005
WWF is extremely concerned by the results of the last ICCAT meeting, which failed to reconsider the duration of the Bluefin tuna fishing season in the Mediterranean. The conservation organization urges the EU, who is a key member in ICCAT, to revise its position.
As the most important organisation for the management of tuna fishing - the ICCAT - just gathered in Seville, Spain, WWF is extremely concerned by the participants' failure to reconsider the duration of the Bluefin tuna fishing season. In a context of complete mismanagement and high risk of collapse of the species fishery, the conservation organisation urges the EU to revise its position.
"The rejection by the EU and Libya to extend the closing of the fishing season means a new slaughter next year in Mediterranean waters. Bluefin tuna stocks are already on the brink of commercial extinction. The EU has to take its responsibility and stop this massacre. We cannot afford to wait another year to act", declared Dr. Sergi Tudela, Fisheries Coordinator at WWF Mediterranean.
Supported by WWF, the United States, Japan, Norway, Iceland and Mexico proposed to close the industrial purse seine fishery during July and August, in order to substantially reduce the fishing pressure on bluefin tuna. The opposition of the European Commission, supported by Libya, prevented its adoption, as unanimity is required in ICCAT.
For further information :
Chantal Ménard, Communications Officer, WWF Mediterranean Programme Office.
Tel: +39-06-844 97 417 - Email: cmenard@wwfmedpo.org
More information on tuna fishing and farming in the Mediterranean :
http://www.panda.org/mediterranean
The WWF tuna position paper for this year’s ICCAT meeting can be downloaded at: http://assets.panda.org/downloads/iccat_tuna.doc
