Germany’s Minister for the Environment, Sigmar Gabriel, has announced his backing for a proposal by the Principality of Monaco to list Atlantic bluefin tuna on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – which will effectively ban all international trade – as advocated by WWF.

Minister Gabriel said, "Only a trade ban will save this particularly at-risk species from extinction. Bluefin tuna therefore needs to be listed on the CITES convention, indeed, this is a long overdue step."

"We support Monaco’s proposal for the listing of Atlantic bluefin tuna on CITES Appendix I. Up to now, attempts under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy for protection of bluefin tuna have been ineffective and without success," added Minister Gabriel

With this announcement Germany is following commitments to the trade ban proposal already pledged in recent days by France, UK and the Netherlands.

"Banning international trade in the imperilled Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna is the only possible course of action, this is our last chance to save this overexploited species," said Heike Vesper, Fisheries Officer at WWF Germany.

"WWF now urges European Union member states to speak with one voice, it is time to get behind Monaco and support this vital proposal and save this endangered species from consignment to the history books."

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