Ocean Sentry
(From dailytimes.com.pk) – The continued overfishing of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean is a “disgrace” and all fishing of the species in the region must be suspended immediately, a panel said on Thursday. “The panel recommends that all fishing for East Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna be immediately suspended.”
The European Union, North African countries, Turkey, Japan and the United States are the principle members of ICCAT involved in the fishing of bluefin tuna, a species highly prized for use in popular Japanese dishes, sushi and sashimi.
Today more than 50,000 tonnes of bluefin tuna are caught every year in the Mediterreanean.
A newly-published report from an independent panel reviewing the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) said countries are not respecting the fishing regulations which they had agreed to.
Experts say too many of the large fish — which can weigh up to 900 kilos (nearly 2,000 pounds) — are ending up on the platters of restaurants around the globe.
