WWF - Conservation and environmental news & publications: Japan

Conservation advances at IWC

2012-07-06

Panama City – The 64th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) closed today with major steps toward the conservation of whales and dolphins, many of which are highly threatened. Meeting in Panama City this week, governments pushed forward initiatives geared at reducing dangerous marine debris and minimizing subsea noise from industrial activities, which can disorient and injure and even kill whales.

"WWF commends IWC member states for joining together to tackle the most critical threats to cetaceans, such as fisheries bycatch, ship strikes, and the expansion of oil and gas development." said Wendy Elliott, head of WWF's delegation to the IWC. "As land-based resources are depleted, exploitation of the oceans is growing rapidly. We must not allow another shameful decline of whales from human activities, which were driven to near extinction during the peak years of whaling."

Warnings from the IWC's Scientific Committee about the grave state of Mexico's vaquita porpoise and the Maui's dolphin in New Zealand generated expressions of deep concern from many countries. The committee recommended that Mexico and New Zealand ban all fishing gillnets from the critically endangered animals' habitats to prevent entanglement deaths.

New threats

IWC governments also expressed concern over the threat posed by increasing development of off-shore oil and gas projects. The whale-rich Arctic waters off Alaska could see their first ever drilling operations from oil giant Shell as early as this month. Shell admits that technology does not exist to clean up an oil spill in harsh Arctic conditions.

"Considering that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill could not be contained, even in the best of conditions, an Arctic spill would cause an even greater environmental disaster," said Leigh Henry, Senior Policy Advisor for WWF-US. "At this point in time, the risks from oil and gas operations in the Arctic, including the noise pollution that impacts whales' ability to survive, outweigh the benefits. Arctic drilling is a short-sighted solution to our long-term energy needs."

Similarly, in the Russian Far East, oil companies are planning to build new off-shore drilling platforms near the feeding area of critically endangered western gray whales. It was noted by governments that the cumulative impacts of additional platforms have not been studied.

There are only an estimated 150 western gray whales remaining, and the waters off Sakhalin Island are the only place where they can teach their calves to feed. Loud noise pulses used by oil companies in the exploratory phase are known to interfere with whales' behaviour and could cause western gray whales to abandon their primary feeding habitat.

Monaco's commissioner cautioned that the expansion of oil and gas exploration is a "dangerous development" taking place worldwide that could seriously interfere with preservation of the marine environment.

Fireworks on IWC floor

The meeting's most explosive moment came Wednesday when the Republic of Korea shocked delegates by announcing plans to conduct so-called 'scientific whaling' of an endangered minke whale population. The move triggered widespread condemnation from conservation groups and world leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

The meeting also witnessed debate over a proposal from Monaco for greater engagement of the United Nations in addressing unregulated whaling on the high seas conducted outside IWC's control. Unable to reach a consensus decision, it was decided that discussions on the topic would continue after the meeting.

Just before close of the gathering, IWC governments decided to shift to bi-annual meetings, although no nation has stepped forward to host the commission in 2014.

Korea reveals plan to hunt endangered whales

2012-07-04

Panama City – The Republic of Korea today announced plans to kill endangered whales under a loophole in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) treaty that allows for so-called "scientific whaling". The proposal was met with fierce opposition from numerous IWC member governments that called the hunt unnecessary given the availability of modern non-lethal research techniques.

Many governments countered Korea's claims that lethal whaling is needed to determine how to manage stocks. Australia went so far as to invite Korean scientists for a visit to discuss how non-lethal techniques can help fill data gaps.

"The resumption of whaling by Korea after a quarter of a century would be a huge step back for the IWC," said Wendy Elliott, head of WWF's delegation to IWC. "Korea already sells meat from whales caught in fishing gear, and we believe this move is a thinly veiled attempt by Korea to conduct commercial whaling under the guise of scientific research, similar to hunts conducted by Japan in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary."

The minke whales that would be taken in Korea's proposed hunt are considered endangered by the IWC Scientific Committee.

In its opening statement to the annual meeting of the commission, Korea said its fishermen are pressuring the government to allow whaling. "[T]hey are experiencing disturbances in their fishing activities due to frequent occurrences of cetaceans in their fishing grounds and an increasing number of minke whales are eating away large amount of fish stocks," the statement says.

The argument that increasing whale populations are behind declining fish stocks lacks any scientific foundation. Overfishing, not whales, is responsible for the degraded state of many of the world's fish stocks.

Korea conducted a similar scientific hunt of minke whales in 1986, which was found by the IWC to yield no relevant scientific data. Not only was no new information of significant scientific value obtained, the IWC Scientific Committee found that "the take of 69 minke whales may have caused further reduction of this depleted stock, or at best inhibited its recovery," according to its report.

"This type of senseless proposal derails the important work of the IWC on conservation issues of critical importance to whales, dolphins and porpoises," Elliott said. "Conservation of threatened whale species is something all countries should be able to agree on."

Big investments needed in Asia-Pacific's dwindling natural capital

2012-06-05

Manila, Philippines – Booming economic development and per-capita consumption across the Asia-Pacific region is burning up more natural resources than are available, placing enormous pressure on the region's already heavily taxed forests, rivers and oceans, says a new WWF report on the value of Asia's natural capital.

Produced in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Ecological Footprint and Investment in Natural Capital in Asia and the Pacific report – a regional perspective on elements of the recently-released Living Planet Report – focuses on attainable methods of preserving key regional ecosystems including the unique forests of Borneo, the marine wealth of the Coral Triangle, the Mekong region's diverse habitats, as well as the mountainous Eastern Himalayas.

Open publication

"Across the Asia-Pacific region, the gap between human demand for natural resources and the environment's ability to replenish those resources is widening," said WWF's Director General Jim Leape. "In 2008, the natural resources available per person, in places as diverse as the Eastern Himalayas and Mekong river basin, shrunk by about two thirds compared to 1970. Tragically, the rate of species loss was about twice the global average over this period," he added.

The new report uses the Living Planet Index (LPI) to measure changes in the health of ecosystems across the Asia-Pacific region. The global index fell by 28 per cent from 1970 and 2008, while the Indo-Pacific region saw a shocking 64 per cent decline in key populations of species over the same period.

"The Indo-Pacific realm has undergone the most rapid economic and demographic transition of any region in the world since 1970," said Jonathan Loh from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the organization that keeps track of the index. "Across most of tropical Asia and the Pacific, the population grew from about 1.2 billion to 2.6 billion, which is alone enough to double the pressures placed on the area's natural resources. Coupled with the dramatic increase in per capita consumption across the entire Asia-Pacific region, it becomes clear that reversing this downward trend needs systemic changes to our economies and the way we produce and consume natural resources," he added.

Asia's biggest footprints: the individual and the nation

Australia, Singapore, Mongolia, South Korea, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and China round out the top 10 Ecological Footprints per capita in the Asia-Pacific region.

Asia-Pacific residents still consume on average close to 60 per cent less than the global average of over one and half planets per person, but major disparities exist. The per-capita Ecological Footprint of Australia, for example, is the highest in the region – 14 times larger than Timor-Leste.

From a national level, China has the largest footprint of all the countries of Asia and the Pacific, due to its large population. China and India, the report says, are likely to experience the greatest increase in overall Ecological Footprint by 2015, representing 37 per cent of the projected global footprint.

"Over the next 20 years, hundreds of millions of new consumers will be added to those already living in Asia and the Pacific today – driving up demand for energy, food, metals, and water," said Jim Leape. "We need to create mechanisms that make protecting those resources the right economic choice for the communities that use and depend on them."

Regional solutions for the health of the planet

The Ecological Footprint and Investment in Natural Capital in Asia and the Pacific report outlines four key solutions that are working to reverse the declining Living Planet Index in four major regions: the Heart of Borneo, the Coral Triangle, the Greater Mekong sub-region and the Eastern Himalayas. All of these areas are extremely important as they provide millions of people with food, water and energy – and harbour countless valuable species of plants and animals.

Policies that recognize the importance of the environment early on in the planning process is one part of the equation, says the report, as are well-funded and monitored marine and terrestrial protected areas. Payment for ecosystem services under programmes such as REDD also play an important role, as do private-sector sustainability initiatives. For example, many businesses in the region are already showing how sustainably produced commodities – including cotton, soy, palm oil, fish and timber – bring big gains for people and also the environment.

"We must move toward deeper structural and systemic change in the way goods are manufactured and services provided," said ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda. "The green economy itself can become an engine of growth and the driver for a new generation of green jobs—bringing a higher quality of life."

Rio+20

Released on World Environment Day and only three weeks before the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Ecological Footprint and Investment in Natural Capital in Asia and the Pacific report presents a solution-oriented look at what leaders attending the Earth Summit need to focus on most – reconfirming their commitment to creating a sustainable future.

"The challenges presented in the Asia-Pacific footprint report show us that we are living beyond our means. But it also clearly identifies attainable solutions that build on the strength of partnerships at local, regional and international levels," said Leape. "Rio+20 offers governments, businesses and civil society a unique opportunity to develop even more innovative solutions to ensuring we preserve the natural wealth of our planet," he added.

ADB and WWF have worked in partnership since 2001 on mainstreaming environment in development and supporting the countries of Asia and the Pacific in conserving their natural capital.

APP's double default on creditors

2012-03-27

European, Japanese taxpayers unwittingly underwrite continued
forest and tiger habitat destruction.

Pekanbaru, Sumatra; Gland, Switzerland: Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has been accused of a "double default" on international creditors, after an investigation revealed that the company has decimated tropical forests it promised to conserve under "legally binding" debt restructuring agreements.

"APP Default on Environmental Covenant," a new report from Sumatra NGO coalition Eyes on the Forest, shows that the company in 2004 agreed to protect high conservation value forest under debt restructuring agreements it made with taxpayer-backed financial institutions in nine countries. The debt restructuring agreements were negotiated after APP in 2001 defaulted on a massive $US13.9 billion of debt and was delisted by the New York and Singapore stock exchanges.

The 2004 agreements covered the restructuring of $6 billion in debt to the taxpayer-backed export credit agencies of Germany, Japan, France, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Spain and Denmark. Under the agreement, APP – part of the giant Sinar Mas conglomerate - also promised to be fully sustainable by 2007, something it defined as producing all pulp exclusively from plantation wood. The company described the agreements as a "legally binding contractual obligation".

Click to enlarge (© Eyes of the Forest)

The Eyes on the Forest investigation shows that 2007 was the year APP's wood suppliers began clearing the very areas of high conservation value forest in central Sumatra's Pulau Muda that had been highlighted by APP as an example of a new "scientific basis for the sustainable development of our plantations and the management of our conservation areas".

"Despite APP's praise for the independent mapping of the high conservation value forest in the Pulau Muda rainforest, our analysis of recent satellite imagery shows a third of the identified 34,000 hectares has now been drained and cleared," said Muslim Rasyid, co-ordinator of Jikalahari (Forest Rescue Network Raiu), a member of Eyes on the Forest.

Much of this clearing was legally questionable on other grounds, being on peat of more than four metres deep which when drained gives off colossal carbon emissions.

Promises cannot be trusted

"Even in legally binding agreements with government-backed credit institutions around the world, APP has demonstrated that its promises cannot be trusted," said Rod Taylor, Director of WWF International's Forest Programme.

"In just the last couple of months, it's been revealed that APP and affiliates have cleared inside a self-declared tiger sanctuary, that the company has made claims about sustainability certifications that its certifiers reject, and that protected timber species are present in supplies to its pulp mills."

APP has missed self-imposed deadlines of 2004, 2007, and 2009 of supplying its pulp mills exclusively from renewable plantation wood. An announcement it would finally fulfil this promise by 2015 was recently amended to a new deadline of 2020 – when there is a risk there will be little forest left in Sumatra. Eyes on the Forest calls on the ECAs and other investors to not finance APP's plans to expand existing or open new pulp and paper mills in Indonesia, in China and around the world.

"WWF urges taxpayers to tell their export credit agencies to stop supporting the destruction of Sumatran and other tropical forests and driving elephants, tigers and orang-utans to local extinction," said Nazir Foead, Conservation Director WWF-Indonesia.

"This is a company that defaulted on its debts and defaulted on the environmental covenants it agreed to as a condition of restructuring its debts. Any support to its plans to expand risks history repeating itself, with any new pulp mills adding to the over-capacity driving the assault on Sumatra's natural forests and wildlife.

"This is not a business model that should be financed by any prudent financial institution or investor for replication in Borneo, Papua or anywhere else."

For further information:
"APP Default on Environmental Covenant," a report by Eyes on the Forest (www.eyesontheforest.or.id), a coalition of Sumatra NGOs including WWF Riau, can be found here

The truth behind APP's greenwash, by Eyes on the Forest, compares APP claims of sustainability and responsibility to its actual practices. See http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?202809/Massive-APP-greenwash-campaign-is-mostly-hogwash-finds-new-report

APP certifiers distance themselves from sustainability claims http://wwf.panda.org/?203540/APP-certifiers-distance-themselves-from-sustainability-claims#disqus_thread

WWF-US last month detailed the link between APP's destruction of Sumatran rain forests and U.S. toilet paper imports. To download the report and learn more about WWF's tissue campaign, please visit www.worldwildlife.org/tp
Phil Dickie, pdickie@wwfint.org, +41 79 703 1952
Chris Chaplin, cchaplin@wwf.sg, +65 9826 3802

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. panda.org/news for latest news and media resources

WWF campaigns for more green energy in Japan

2011-08-01

Tokyo, Japan - WWF has launched a new business partnership that urges the Japanese government to adopt more renewable energy into the country's power mix to help increase energy security and reduce the impact of climate change on future generations.

The Business Partnership for Low-Carbon Society urges the nation to rethink its energy future and shift to a greener society where renewable energy plays a central role.

Demands for a greener energy mix have peaked since the devastating earthquake that struck northeastern Japan on March 11 this year, the worst in the country's history. Measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, it also triggered a tsunami that washed out costal cities and farmland across the northeast.

The disaster virtually made it impossible for the government to build new reactors as planned, and it instead shifted to the development of a new energy policy that includes more renewable energy technologies and an enhanced focus on environmental protection.

In a show of support for the demands for a cleaner, greener energy mix across the country, IKEA Japan and mont-bell Co., Ltd are endorsing WWF's new corporate partnership. Their concerns and vision have been highlighted in the recent WWF-backed Communiqué on the Future of Energy in Japan, which outlines the need for all of society to conserve energy and push for the adoption of policies that will make the adoption of renewable energy technologies across Japan a reality.

"The nation's energy policy also works as a climate policy," says Yosuke Ikehara, a Climate and Energy Project Leader of WWF Japan. "When developing a future energy vision, we need to place renewables in a central position by taking into account safety and sustainability as well as their potential to reduce the impacts of climate change."

"It is significant that this idea is also coming from the Japanese businesses sector at this time," added Mr. Ikehara.

To promote the uptake of renewable energy resources, a feed-in tariff bill is now under discussion at the Japanese Diet. However, there is a regressive proposal in discussion that puts a ceiling on the amount of surcharge per unit of power consumption, which would prevent wider dissemination of renewable energy technologies. WWF Japan is urging legislators to pass the bill in a form that promotes the renewable sources of power.

Payback time for fleets stealing tuna from oceans

2010-11-25

Paris, France: Countries which exceed fishing quotas on the rare East Atlantic tuna species should pay for their illegal activity, an issue that has been key in bringing the species to the brink of collapse, WWF said.

European fleets, particularly from France, have massively overfished the tuna species by up to 100 per cent for years.

Yet they repeatedly managed to obtain amnesty on the "payback rules" from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meaning their quotas to catch tuna were not accordingly reduced in the following years as set out in ICCAT's own rules.

"It is astonishing that some countries seem to be allowed to operate above any rules and regulations," Sergi Tudela, Head of WWF's Fisheries Programme, said in Paris on the sidelines of ICCAT's annual meeting.

The goals of the meeting include the enforcement of existing rules that oblige countries to respect the fishing quotas on tuna.

"In order to maintain its credibility ICCAT has to enforce its rules and oblige fishing countries to pay back what they have effectively stolen," Tudela said.

"Allowing European fleets to overfish without any consequences is an embarrassment for ICCAT and its members, especially at a time when the EU is meant to be reforming its fisheries policy," he said.

In 2005 and 2006 EU fleets overshot their legal bluefin tuna quotas by 2,269.3 tonnes and 865.5 tonnes respectively. According to ICCAT rules they should have been subject to a 100 per cent payback. After obtaining an amnesty on this overfishing from ICCAT the fleets again overshot the quota by 5,021 tonnes in 2007.

ICCAT has failed for years to implement sustainable recovery and management for this fishery in the Mediterranean Sea, but poor compliance has only made the situation worse.

Like other species of bluefin tuna, the eastern Atlantic bluefin has flesh whose taste and bright red colour are admired by sushi lovers across the world.

And like other bluefin tuna species, it is also on the brink of collapse.

WWF is calling on governments to end rule-bending and impunity for illegal fishing. The global conservation group is urging the inter-governmental ICCAT to implement a science-based management plan that will allow the Atlantic bluefin tuna to recover.

Specifically, WWF is urging ICCAT to cut bluefin tuna catches in the Mediterranean from 13,500 tonnes per year at present to less than 6,000 tonnes, and to allocate the remaining catch to artisanal fishing fleets.

Destructive industrial purse seine fleets and fattening farms in the Mediterranean must be urgently phased out.

No-fishing sanctuaries should be established in the species' six known spawning grounds in the Mediterranean Sea.

Investigation sinks claims bluefin tuna fishing is under control

2010-11-08

Rome, Italy: Results of an independent investigation launched this weekend have revealed a complex international black market in East Atlantic bluefin tuna worth an estimated $4 billion.

A web of reporters from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) around the world have spent 8 months digging into the fishery and trade of this highly prized seafood commodity which is also classified as an endangered species. The release of the investigation's findings falls just a week before international regulators meet in Paris for crucial decisions on the recovery and management of this species.

The findings confirm WWF's repeated warnings over the last decade of broad lack of control in this fishery – with many cases of quota violation, widespread underreporting, use of banned spotter planes, catching of undersized fish, and even governmental misreporting coming to light.

"No consumer, no business, no government can be sure"

"The revelations of ICIJ's exhaustive investigation confirm WWF's repeated warnings about widespread illegalities rippling throughout the supply chain of the Mediterranean and East Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery and trade," said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean.

"No consumer, no business, no government, can be sure they are dealing with responsibly caught and traded bluefin tuna – the whole chain is tarnished. Decision-makers at ICCAT have the power to put a stop to this barbarity once and for all at their meeting in Paris later this month. There can be no more burying heads in the sand on this international scandal."

Speaking of the fishery's workings between 1998 and 2007, French fishing captain Roger Del Ponte told ICIJ: "Everyone cheated. There were rules, but we didn't follow them."

ICIJ's investigations point to France's fisheries authorities covering up the illegal activities for years and deliberately misreporting to the EU and ICCAT, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas – the body that sets management rules for the Atlantic bluefin fishery.

New scheme full of holes

Recent data gathered from ICCAT by WWF confirm that rule-flouting in the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery was still widespread during the 2010 fishery.

ICCAT has repeatedly failed to reign in illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea. The findings of the ICIJ investigation show the gross failure of ICCAT's new Bluefin Tuna Catch Documentation Scheme (BCD). Flaunted by ICCAT as a solution to the lack of control, the BCD is described in the ICIJ report as "so full of holes that its data are almost useless".

With this information coming to light, there can be no excuse for the international community at the ICCAT meeting in Paris, on 17-27 November 2010, not to suspend the destructive industrial purse seine fishery and the tuna farming industry that depends on it.

WWF urges ICCAT delegates to heed the clarion call of ICIJ's report and maximise the opportunity of their Paris meeting to set a sound recovery plan for East Atlantic bluefin tuna: allow only a limited artisanal fishery by cutting total catches to between 0 and 6,000 tonnes per year, enforce respect for payback rules, and establish no-fishing spawning sanctuaries in key spawning grounds.

For further information, interviews with WWF fisheries policy experts, or photos, please contact:
Gemma Parkes, WWF Mediterranean, gparkes@wwfmedpo.org / +39 346 387 3237

Excerpt from: 'Looting the Seas' documentary

Nature gets major boost from new biodiversity deal

2010-10-29

Nagoya, Japan: Governments gathered for a meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have struck an agreement which, when implemented, will set the world on a course to help prevent mass species extinctions and arrest the decline of the world's valuable nature.

"The Ministers have worked hard over the last three days to forge this agreement. We hope their spirit and determination will be carried into other fora, including the upcoming climate talks in Cancun." said Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International.

WWF welcomed the adoption of the new 10 year biodiversity rescue plan.

"This agreement reaffirms the fundamental need to conserve nature as the very foundation of our economy and our society. Governments have sent a strong message that protecting the health of the planet has a place in international politics and countries are ready to join forces to save life on Earth." added Leape.

Delegates at the meeting managed to overcome the deadlock over an issue that has defied resolution for the 18 years since this convention was signed - Access and Benefit Sharing of genetic resources.

"The Nagoya protocol is an historic achievement, ensuring that the often immense value of genetic resources is more equitably shared." added Leape.

10% protection for oceans a step in the right direction

Governments agreed a target to end overfishing, and a target of 10 percent protection for marine and coastal areas, including the high seas. While WWF recognises the important step to boost protection 10 times more than what the world has currently achieved, the target is still only half what scientists recommend.

"Governments have agreed to protect 10 percent of all the oceans on Earth and to end overfishing – this is great news for the world's oceans."

17% target for terrestrial protected areas

The new biodiversity plan sets out a target of 17 per cent for protection of terrestrial habitats, a modest increase on the current global average which is at about 12 per cent.

Biodiversity and economics

Governments also reached agreement on a target to reform harmful subsidies. The new deal requires countries to ensure that biodiversity is incorporated into national accounts - an important political signal which has the potential to set in motion a different approach to economic decision making.

While the host country Japan pledged significant funds this week towards biodiversity, developed countries were unable to mobilise an immediate injection of new funding. However, governments did reach agreement on a plan to identify the necessary funding by 2012 to implement the plan. New money is vital to urgently tackle the rapid loss in the world's biodiversity.

"While significant progress has been made on many fronts, there is still work to do to mobilize the resources that will be required to help the developing world reach their targets."

"We were disappointed that most rich countries came to Nagoya with empty pockets – unable or unwilling to provide the resources that will make it possible for the developing world to implement their ambitious targets." said Leape.

Governments are leaving here with a new direction agreed for how they will save life on Earth. It is now crucial they move fast to translate those promises into action.

Japan's Ecological Footprint

2010-10-27

Japan's Ecological Footprint for consumption in 2006 was 4.1gha (global hectare)* per capita, about one and a half times the global average of 2.6 gha per capita. Japan's biocapacity was only 0.6gha per capita about a third of the global average of 1.8 gha per capita.

This means that if everyone lived based on the Japanese standard of living we would currently require the equivalent of 2.3 Earths to support the world population.

Japan's large Carbon Footprint

Japan's high Ecological Footprint of 4.1gha per capita is explained by the size of the land required to absorb carbon dioxide. 65% of the total Ecological Footprint is taken by Carbon Footprint. The Carbon Footprint increased to 13 times in the late 1990s in comparison with the 1961 level.

High dependency on imports

While having biocapacity of only 0.6gha per capita, Japan's Ecological Footprint is 4.1gha per capita. This implies that Japan depends on imports to offset the gap.

For example, Japan, a maritime nation having a large fishing ground in its territory, has a large fishing grounds footprint of production. However, Japan is unable to supply local demand and depends on fisheries products imported from overseas. A slump in fisheries in recent years has made Japan even more dependent on imports.

With regard to forest products, Japan, a well forested nation, has a high forest biocapacity. Japan theoretically can supply all domestic demand from its own biocapacity. However, Japan depends on imports and supplied only 20.3% of the demand in 2006 ("Timber Demand & Supply Sheet", 2006, Forestry Agency).

Japan's cropland biocapacity was extremely low. As such large portions of grains are imported into Japan. This also makes Japan vulnerable to any global declines in production due to climate change.

In these cases, Japan has a bad balance between production and consumption when it comes to primary products.

How to reduce Japan's Ecological Footprint

Food represents the largest contribution (36%) to the Ecological Footprint of Japanese household consumption. It is a serious problem that residents of Japan throw away around 13.8 million tonnes of food every year. Eliminating food waste, which is 1.7 times the food aid provision of the entire world, could, potentially, reduce the Japanese Ecological Footprint.

Carbon Footprint makes up two-thirds of Japan's Ecological Footprint. However, Japan has not introduced any strong policy or regulations on carbon dioxide. In other words, there is a huge potential to reduce Ecological Footprint through appropriate implementation of domestic emissions trading schemes or carbon taxes.

Japan has a large Ecological Footprint, but measures to effectively reduce it are relatively clear. Japan, a nation very dependent on large imports, must make efforts to reduce its Ecological Footprint from both global and domestic sustainability perspectives.

It is time for Japan to make concrete policies to reduce Ecological Footprint.

About the report

WWF-Japan and the Global Footprint Network (GFN) recently published the first Ecological Footprint Report of Japan in Japanese and English. Prior to the 2010 edition to be published in Fall 2010, WWF Japan and GFN have complied "Japan Ecological Footprint Report 2009", the first report on Japan's ecological footprint, by analyzing ecological footprint from data between 1961 and 2006. The report indicates the present situation and challenges for Japan.

WWF calls on CBD delegates to build global alliance to protect life on earth

2010-10-22

Nagoya, Japan, Oct 22 - Delegates who gathered In Nagoya for a crucial meeting to plan a way forward to halt dramatic loss of species and natural resources made little progress in the first days of the talks but a successful outcome is still possible.

The first week highlighted a split between the developing world, home to the majority of species on earth, and developed countries, which once committed to provide enough funding to protect nature but had failed to deliver enough to make an initial plan work.

According to WWF, a successful outcome is still possible if Ministers of Environment, who are due to arrive for the second week of the talks, pack their luggage full of strong leadership and commitment as they prepare to leave their home countries.

"What we need to see is a global alliance to protect life on earth but what we have seen so far are alarming divisions and a hardening of positions" said Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International.

"Governments need to value nature, from an economic and intrinsic perspective. It is in their interest to come up with a strong outcome."

Talks stalled on the issues of Access and Benefits Sharing (ABS) of genetic resources, with threats by developing countries to block an agreement on a strategic plan to halt biodiversity loss by 2020 unless ABS is agreed.

Talks are also mired in arguments over finance.

"Developed countries have not put forward any significant new funds to enable developing countries to implement the rescue plan for the next decade."

WWF therefore urges parties to adopt at COP10 an action plan for resource mobilization as the cost of inaction would be much higher.

"A successful outcome of this conference and in fact the very future of our children and grandchildren hinges on finding a sustainable way of protecting, sharing and benefiting from the immense natural wealth that our planet provided us with."

"If we don't agree to ways value and conserve what nature gives us, we face considerable threats to our food security, water security, and our economic stability. That's why we are calling on delegates here in Nagoya to put aside their differences and take responsibility for the future and for the health of the planet."

"A successful outcome of the CBD is dependent on three elements: a strategic plan setting 2020 targets to protect nature, a deal on financing this protection, and an agreement how to equitably share the world's genetic riches," Mr Leape said. "In order to achieve these objectives we need to see leadership, flexibility and considerable good will."

Whaling meeting ends in failure after shutting out NGOs, media

2010-06-26

The 62nd annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting ended today with governments failing to reach an agreement on a proposed package on whaling.

The IWC, which began Monday, took the unprecedented decision to open discussions at this year's meeting behind closed doors, shutting out civil society and members of the news media. The Commission also did not allow NGOs to speak until late Thursday.

Negotiations fell apart on a proposal by the Commission's Chair that attempted to reduce current whaling and bring it under the IWC's control. WWF did not support the proposal as drafted, but was urging the IWC to find a solution that would at a minimum eliminate whaling in the Southern Ocean, a critical whale feeding ground, and halt whaling of threatened species.

"The IWC has been at a standstill for several years now. While the Chair's proposal was not acceptable as drafted, we are left with a situation in which yet again, Japan's whaling fleet will kill hundreds of whales in the Southern Ocean in the name of 'science'," said Wendy Elliott, WWF International Species Manager

"At this IWC meeting, politics have yet again won over the conservation of whales. The IWC's commercial whaling ban was one of the greatest conservation achievements of our time, saving many whale species from the brink of extinction.

"But that decision was made more than 20 years ago. It is time for the IWC to become relevant again and step up to its responsibility to help save these majestic animals that are so crucial to the health of our oceans."

"This year has been a disaster for marine species, mainly driven by a complete disregard for scientific advice by some governments. Only three months ago, the international community failed to agree on critical protection for several marine species at the meeting of the United Nation's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), including an urgently needed international ban on commercial trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna.

"This trend of failure to protect our marine environment must be reversed, or everyone, not just fishing and whaling countries, will be in deep trouble as the oceans are emptied."

"The international community must implement a science-based recovery and management plan for the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery at the next meeting of its management body, the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, in November" Elliott said.

Some conservation achievements were made this week - for example the Commission decided to investigate the impacts of oil and gas exploration and development in the Arctic, a critical initiative in the wake of the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"This kind of work is the real future of the IWC," Elliott said.

As one of the NGO speakers on Thursday, WWF's Mammadou Diallo suggested to the Commission that a speaking mechanism is adopted similar to other international conventions such as CITES, where the NGOs participate in the decision-making through interventions on agenda items after governments speak.

Diallo also said the IWC should consider creating a sponsorship programme for delegates from developing countries to avoid further allegations of vote-buying, such as those published in media reports prior to this week's meeting.

Climate change commitments "missing" in G8 Accountability Report

2010-06-20

Ottawa, Canada: WWF is critical of the G8 Accountability Report released today for not measuring progress on one of the most substantial G8 development and climate change commitments to date: to limit temperature rise to an identified 2 degrees Centigrade threshold of dangerous climate change.

"If we don't limit global warming to as far below two degrees as possible, all development ambitions will be in serious danger," said Kim Carstensen, leader of WWF's Global Climate Initiative.

"The G8 countries have yet to make sufficient emission cuts to reach this goal, and this accountability report should be assessing – not ignoring – this issue."

"This report indicates that the world's leading economies have yet to integrate climate change and development plans in a real and meaningful way."

The G8 stated in 2009 that they would "take the lead" to ensure global and national emission peaks could "take place as soon as possible." They recognized that an "increase in global average temperature" shouldn't "exceed 2 degrees C."

This followed the Gleneagles 2005 commitment - also not included in the Accountability Report - to make "substantial reductions" to stabilize emission concentrations in the atmosphere "at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system."

"If anything should be in the Accountability Report, even one focused on development, it should be climate change. The G8 – and now G20 – should be sending clear messages to the rest of the world that they are working to cut emissions to reduce impacts on the most vulnerable, and stimulate a low carbon economy for all."

Of 56 indicators, there are five in total on energy and the environment. The Report does include the UN Copenhagen Accord promise on fast-track and long-term financing – both UN decisions that require the leadership of the G8 and G20 respectively.

The Report also notes that the G8 will fail to meet its 2010 objectives on reducing the loss of biodiversity. A temperature rise of 2 degrees C would put 30% of biodiversity at risk.

G8 activities: - http://panda.org/g8g20media

Resource materials:
-          WWF's G8 and G20 Recommendations: www.panda.org/climate/2010g8g20 (PDF)
           and http://bit.ly/G8G20wwfvideo (2 minute video summary)
-          Recommendation on Climate Finance: www.panda.org/climatefinance

Is Europe swimming away from commitments on bluefin tuna?

2010-06-04

Rome, Italy : WWF applauds Canada, Japan, Korea and the United States for this week's statement reconfirming commitments to urgently establishing a science-based recovery and management plan for overexploited stocks of Atlantic bluefin tuna.

But the global conservation organization is surprised at the absence of the European Union, whose fleets catch most of the fish, in backing the statement.

Released at an informal meeting this week of some members of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in Barcelona, Spain - where countries met to "confirm their commitment to stock recovery and sustainable management" of the species - the statement reiterates commitments made in March in Doha at a meeting of the largest international wildlife trade convention, CITES.

"WWF congratulates Canada, Japan, Korea and the United States for this loud and clear statement but is alarmed to see that the EU is not among those endorsing the need for sustainable tuna management, especially after being a driving force behind the Doha commitments," said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF.

"Now more than ever, at a time when EU fisheries policy as a whole is supposedly being entirely reformed towards greater sustainability, EU backing is crucial"

The statement underlines the need to push for "a comprehensive set of measures for recovery", "accurate reporting", restricted fishing capacity, eliminating illegal trade, punitive action in cases of non-compliance with rules, and "monitoring, control and enforcement measures" at the next annual meeting of all ICCAT parties in November in Paris, France.

Specifically, Canada, Japan, Korea and the United States stress the need for "sustainable harvest levels to ensure at least a 60% probability" of recovery no later than 2022 - and that in 2009 ICCAT members agreed "to establish a 3-year recovery plan for Eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna at (the) 2010 annual meeting, based on advice from the (ICCAT scientific committee), and suspend (bluefin tuna) fisheries for the eastern (Atlantic) stock in 2011 if a serious threat of fishery collapse is detected".

"The message from Canada, Japan, Korea and the United States to the whole of ICCAT could not be clearer - the time for science-based recovery and management for Atlantic bluefin is now or never, and illegal fishing and trade will no longer be tolerated," said Sergi Tudela of WWF.

"WWF appeals to the EU and all other ICCAT member countries to back this position. It is for the good of the tuna but also the good of fishermen and their families, for a consumption tradition, and for the marine ecosystem at large - if there's no more fish, there's no gain in this for anybody."

More on bluefin tuna

Japanese policy mix needs strong shot of emissions trading

2010-03-30

Tokyo, Japan: An effective policy approach to turn Japan into a low-carbon economy needs emissions trading at its heart, a WWF report has found.

The new research shows that a strong emissions trading scheme would have little impact on the Japanese economy, while allowing the Hatoyama government to effectively reach its ambitious targets for emission reductions.

"Japan has wasted years playing around with voluntary emissions trading, so it's high time to finally get serious and design a strong scheme for this country, in order to regain our role as a competitive and modern economy", said Naoyuki Yamagishi, Climate Programme Leader at WWF Japan.

At the centre of WWF's new Policy Mix Proposal is an economy-wide cap and trade scheme, covering 60% of the country's CO2 emissions and setting caps in line with Japan's mid-term and long-term targets for emission cuts – 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 against 1990 levels.

The report includes comparative analysis of emissions trading schemes in Europe and America, suggesting that auctioning should be the preferred approach to allocating emission allowances to companies covered by the scheme, i.e. making polluters pay rather than giving them a free ride.

However, the report also looks at alternative allocation approaches for the initial phase of the scheme and other measures to assist polluting industries and major emitters in adjusting to operating in a carbon-constrained world.

"Our research shows that reaching the ambitious targets enshrined in the government's Climate Bill is possible, and that a strong emissions trading scheme is key to making Japan fit for the low-carbon future", said Yamagishi.

"Attempts by industry groups to weaken the targets in the Climate Bill or the emission trading scheme are essentially attempts to weaken Japan's prospects to catch up with countries like Germany that are currently leading the race towards a low-carbon economy."

The WWF report highlights that emissions trading approaches can also be applied to decarbonise non-industrial sectors which would not be covered by a cap and trade scheme. For example, it recommends reducing emissions from commercial buildings by strengthening a scheme developed for the Tokyo metropolitan area which could then be extended to include the rest of the country.

"We welcome the launch of Japan's first real emissions trading scheme in Tokyo this week", said Yamagishi.

"Tokyo's example shows that the debate for or against emissions trading is over. Our entire country should now follow the capital's lead to reap the benefits of going low-carbon. The question is no longer if we need such schemes, but how we can design them in optimal ways."

Apart from emissions trading, the WWF report also outlines a range of other options for rapid decarbonisation in different sectors, e.g. reforming the fuel efficiency standards under the Top Runner scheme that's aimed at cleaning up the transport sector, starting a nationwide "Energy Conservation Concierge" programme to reduce emissions from private households through advice on smart energy consumption, or introducing a carbon tax on fossil fuels Japan imports from overseas.

"Japan has been in a depression for a long time, and we urgently need to get this country back to dancing", said Yamagishi.

"Our proposal is basically the perfect recipe for a low-carbon policy cocktail that would do the trick. And the best thing is: it comes almost for free."

For further information:

Naoyuki Yamagishi, Leader, Climate Programme WWF Japan, m: +819064711432, p: +81337693509, e: yamagishi@wwf.or.jp; Masako Konishi, Project Leader, Climate Change Programme, WWF Japan, p: +81337693509, e: konishi@wwf.or.jp

Notes to editors:

The Policy Mix Proposal was written by WWF Japan and a group of scientists from various Japanese universities led by Professor Toru Morotomi of Kyoto University. An English translation of the report's summary will be available by the end of April. The Japanese version of the report can be found at: http://www.wwf.or.jp/torihiki/

The Basic Bill on Measures to Prevent Global Warming was adopted by the Japanese cabinet on 12 March and includes the goals to cut emissions 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. It highlights emissions trading as a key policy to make these emission cuts reality. The bill is going to be discussed in the Diet (the Japanese parliament) over the coming months, with a vote expected by June when the current Diet session closes.

In addition to this debate about a legislative "framework", there are also ongoing discussions led by the Ministry of Environment on what is referred to as the "roadmap", dealing with the question how exactly the 25% emission reduction target for 2020 is going to be reached. In parallel to that, discussion on a so called "Energy Basic Plan" led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry focus on ideas for Japan's energy strategy towards 2030. Both processes are aiming at reaching conclusion by June as well. One key aspect in these processes is the design of the Japanese emissions trading scheme and carbon tax approach. WWF's Policy Mix Proposal is meant as a concrete input to these multiple discussion processes on framework and substance at government and parliamentary level.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is launching its emissions trading scheme on 1 April. This will be the first real emissions scheme trading that gets implemented in Japan, after previous national governments only experimented with voluntary schemes.

Japanese policy mix needs strong shot of emissions trading

2010-03-30

Carbon cap and trade at risk as Japan considers climate bill

2010-03-10

Tokyo, Japan: Japan is at risk of undermining its own recent commitments on carbon emissions reductions during a confused – and confusing – debate on forthcoming climate legislation, WWF said today.

WWF is calling on a high-level Cabinet Member Committee meeting regarding climate change on Thursday to stick with the already outlined absolute emissions reductions of 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 agreed under the Copenhagen Accord framework, and with the 'cap and trade' scheme outlined as a key mechanism for achieving the target.

The climate bill, to be presented to the full cabinet including Prime Minister Hatoyama on Friday, is being criticized by heavy industry labour unions for possible job loss while some government ministries are promoting a carbon intensity framework for emissions reductions.

Intensity-based emissions trading schemes however seriously undermines the environmental integrity of the bill - absolute emissions would increase with production even if intensity-based targets are achieved.

"If the bill includes "intensity-based" emissions trading schemes then it does not consider the emissions cap that the Japanese government has promised to the Japanese people during the elections and to the world following the Copenhagen Accord," said Naoyuki Yamagishi, WWF-Japan's Head of Climate Change.

"It should have "absolute-based" emissions trading, which is crucial for the scheme to be called "cap and trade" scheme."

Japanese civil groups are also calling on the government to drop the conditionality clauses in the new bill that threaten to tie Japanese action on climate change to a successful international agreement which includes all the major economies.

"Japan should not send wrong signals by making its action absolutely conditional to an international agreement," said Yamagishi. "It will not only jeopardize the credibility of the Japanese target internationally but will also slow down domestic actions."

"The current language in the bill could be interpreted as Japan doing nothing to reduce emissions if there is no comprehensive international agreement."

Japan's pledge to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 is one of the most ambitious in the world.

Japanese civil society groups are also not wishing to see the climate bill being used as a vehicle for an expansion of nuclear power plants.

They would also like to see feed-tariffs for renewable energy that require power companies to buy all the energy produced from all kinds of sustainable renewable energies and not, as proposed, just surplus power from domestic solar installations.

www.panda.org/media for latest news and media resources

www.wwf.or.jp/activity/climate

New whaling compromise is step backwards for whales

2010-02-23

A new draft compromise on whaling released by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) today set a dangerous precedent that the international community must reject, WWF said.

A working group within the IWC today unveiled a new compromise aimed at unlocking the stalled negotiation process between countries fundamentally opposed to whaling and states that support it.

While the compromise contains many positive elements for whale conservation that would help bring the IWC into the 21st Century, the compromise could legitimise 'scientific' whaling by Japan in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

"If there is one single place in the world where whales should be fully protected, it is the Southern Ocean," said Wendy Elliott, Species Manager at WWF-International. "What we need is to eliminate all whaling in the Southern Ocean, including Japanese commercial whaling thinly disguised as 'scientific research'. But what we have now is a deal which could make it even easier for Japan to continue taking whales in this ecologically unique place."

The IWC has maintained a ban on all commercial whaling since 1986. But, defying this ban, Japan, Norway and Iceland use loopholes in the IWC's founding treaty to kill more than 1,500 whales a year. The loopholes allow whaling under 'objection' to management decisions (Norway and Iceland) and "scientific" whaling for research purposes (Japan).

The IWC also provides special protection to a critical whale feeding area, the Southern Ocean surrounding the continent of Antarctica, which the IWC established as a 50 million square kilometre whale sanctuary in 1994. This extra layer of protection signifies the importance of this area as the primary feeding habitat of many of the Southern Hemisphere's whale populations.

Additionally, the proposal sets a process in motion that could endorse quotas which haven't yet had a full and proper scientific review. "It is difficult to see how determining quotas through politics rather than science can be considered progress," added Elliott.

The are some positive aspects of the compromise including increased efforts to secure the recovery of depleted whale populations, action on critical conservation threats facing whales such as such as bycatch and climate change, and improved governance and compliance. However, the compromise cannot be accepted by WWF as long as it allows whaling in the Southern Ocean.

The new compromise which will be discussed by a group of IWC countries at a meeting in March, is intended to be adopted by the IWC at its next full meeting in June this year.

Mediterranean bluefin catches continue to mock quotas and science

2009-11-12

Porto de Galinhas, Brazil: New bluefin tuna catch estimates show Mediterranean fishing fleets continuing to make a mockery of fishing quotas set by the beleaguered Atlantic tuna commission.

The new catch estimates – themselves likely to severely underestimate the effect of continuing rampant illegal fishing – are also around four times the level scientists estimate would give the collapsing tuna population only limited chances of recovery over a time span of more than a decade.

Scientists attached to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) estimated the 2008 bluefin catch at 34,120 tonnes, well over last year's quota of 28,500 tonnes set under the discredited 2006 ICCAT "recovery plan".

Last year, ICCAT set a 22,000-tonne catch quota for 2009 in a controversial response to its scientists' recommendations for a quota as low as 8,500 tonnes.

The new estimates come as ICCAT considers radical amendments to management measures in the face of rising calls for an international trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna and a supporting suspension of the fishery.

"New estimates lodged with ICCAT's science committee show that one quarter of the latest estimated bluefin tuna catch would give us just a toss of the coin chance of recovering the tuna population by 2023," said Dr Sergi Tudela, WWF Mediterranean.

Dr Tudela said he believed the latest estimates themselves were well under the real catch.

"To accept these figures at face value we have to accept a huge reduction in the amount of illegal fishing over the previous year," he said. "I just don't see the evidence or the reasoning for this miraculous drop in illegal fishing, while there is abundant evidence that pirate fishing remains rampant."

ICCAT's scientific committee notes that the estimates take no account of illegal fishing by unregistered boats.

The French navy reported dubious catch data and a lack of observers in intercepted Turkish bluefin boats, investigations are underway into the reflagging of vessels in Algerian waters and a Spanish study revealed laundering of undersize tuna through tuna fattening farms for the Japanese fresh tuna trade.

Opening the ICCAT meeting, chair Dr Fabio Hazin of Brazil said ICCAT had to set up "an efficient mechanism for the monitoring and control of the fishing fleets" and capable of "applying penalties proportional to the infringements detected".

"We have been very much able to impose sanctions on non-members in the past and time has also come for ICCAT to show it does not have double standards, and that it is equally determined to also impose sanctions on its members in the same way it does with non-members," he said.

G20 finance ministers fail to reach green on climate financing

2009-11-07

St Andrews, Scotland – Finance ministers of the world's dominant economies failed to reach agreement on the financing required for a global agreement to stave off catastrophic climate change, WWF said today as the G20 finance ministers meeting here broke up with no resolution to issues dividing developed and emerging economies.

The lack of progress made by the G20 in St. Andrews, follows another week of inconclusive negotiations in UN climate talks in Barcelona as the world heads towards the crucial UN climate conference in Copenhagen in a month's time.

With the G20 now having considered the climate financing issue three times without reaching common ground, WWF remains sceptical about today's promise to make further progress before Copenhagen.

"The G20 Finance Ministers meeting turned out to be a mostly irrelevant sideshow on the way to the talks in Copenhagen in a months' time," said Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland.

"Failure to come to agreement here is a major disappointment.

"This is a group that can throw money at collapsing banks but cannot find adequate figures for the far worse challenge to the global economy of a collapsing climate system."

In detail, the G20 ministers acknowledged the need to increase significantly and urgently the scale of funding but failed to make any reference to the sums required, estimated to be around $160bn a year of public financing.

They also failed to agree on new sources of funding for a climate deal, such as auctioning emissions credits and levies on aviation and shipping.

"Talk of a financial transaction tax which has the potential to raise hundreds of billions in new funding every year turned out to be a red herring without solid political support," Dr Dixon said.

The G20 agreed some principals on a mechanism to administer and distribute these funds but failed to turn these into concrete proposals and - despite last week's pledges from Europe - no new money was put on the table to help the most vulnerable countries adapt to a changing climate.

It is estimated the immediate need for the most vulnerable nations is around $10bn a year.

WWF endorsed the G20s continuing professed interest in winding back fossil fuel use subsidies, but said the group needed to focus its main attention on getting an effective global deal on climate.

"If we are to keep the planet below the danger threshold of a 2ºC temperature rise, the rich nations of the world are going to have to help developing countries follow a low-carbon development path and help them cope with the impacts of current and future climate change," Dr Dixon said.

"We wanted to see solid proposals on how the money would be raised, managed and distributed and an indication of how soon the countries most vulnerable to climate change will receive assistance. The G20 has failed to deliver and the real work will now have to be done at Copenhagen."

Genetic tuna tracking opens new options in race to save fish and fisheries

2009-10-27

Madrid, Spain – A new method that uses gene sequencing to accurately distinguish between tuna species has the potential to support fisheries management and possible trade restrictions for endangered tuna species.

The new method, revealed in a paper published today in PLoS ONE, the online open-access scientific journal, can make an identification from any kind of processed tuna tissue.

The true tunas – from the genus Thunnus – are among the most economically valuable fish in the world and are also among the most endangered of all commercially exploited fish . They are not to be confused with the tuna most commonly tinned, which comes from related families such as mackerel.

The paper, 'A Validated Methodology for Genetic Identification of Tuna Species (Genus Thunnus)', co-authored by Dr Jordi Viñas, a fish genetics specialist at Girona University in Spain and Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries of WWF Mediterranean, proposes for the first time ever a genetic method for the precise identification of all eight recognized species of tuna.

Northern, southern and Pacific bluefin tuna are among the most stressed fish populations in the world, with the Principality of Monaco having lodged an application before the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) for a trade ban on the Atlantic (Northern) bluefin tuna where several fisheries have collapsed and failed to recover and the Mediterranean bluefin fishery is exhibiting advanced signals of impending collapse in the face of overfishing and decades of poor management.

The other tuna species are yellowfin, blackfin, longtail, bigeye and albacore tuna. Identification of traded forms of the fish, which can be dressed, gilled and gutted, or loin and belly meat, and either fresh or frozen – is a highly complex process, which has hampered conservation efforts and was a potential limitation to the imposition of trade controls.

The analysis of the DNA sequence variability of two unlinked genetic markers, one a hypervariable segment of the mitochondrial genome and the other a nuclear gene, enables full discrimination between all the tuna species.

"..findings are particularly relevant"

"This methodology will allow the identification of tuna species of any kind of tissue or type or presentation – including sushi and sashimi," said Dr Jordi Viñas of Girona University. "The differentiation between different tunas, even those with highly similar genes, is now possible."

"Our findings are particularly relevant for the highly overfished, overtraded – and hence endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna, for which there is a growing campaign to impose a temporary ban on international commercial trade," added co-author Dr Sergi Tudela of WWF. "There will now be no trace of doubt when seeking to identify chilled or frozen tuna flesh at port or point of sale."

The paper will remain available to download for free from the website of PLoS ONE and will be submitted to the relevant tuna fishing and trade management and control authorities.

(PLoS ONE is the first journal of primary research from all areas of science to employ a combination of peer review and post-publication rating and commenting, to maximize the impact of every report it publishes. PLoS ONE is published by the Public Library of Science (PLoS), the open-access publisher whose goal is to make the world's scientific and medical literature a public resource.)