Nature Trust (Malta) has said that it welcomes the decision taken by the European Commission to put a halt on purse seine fishing on the blue fin tuna. This decision was taken to bring the tuna season to an abrupt halt after the fleets reached their quotas for this season. As an environmental organisation Nature Trust (Malta), who had been lobbying for Malta to vote in favour of an international trade ban, is pleased that the EC took a stand to protect this species. However the time has come to decommission the purse seine fleets. This decision shows that these boats are not appropriate for this fishery and that this whole operation is entirely unsustainable.

They said that as a moderate environmental NGO, Nature Trust, has always suggested that the tuna fishery needs a break and a total moratorium on this fish should take place now, because stocks are at an irrecoverable state. Moreover Scientists not just environmentalists are now warning of the complete collapse of this fishery. Unless immediate action is taken, then there will not be a tuna fishery left for anyone to enjoy.

“The Tuna farms today are just cages used to fatten up tuna, which are then sold to the Japanese market where they are stored for when the tuna fishery collapses. The tuna fish are caught as juveniles and transported to such cages. This method of farming is totally unsustainable, because the fish is not given time to reproduce. This fishing method is constantly eradicating fish stocks. As was depicted in the film The End Of The Line, Japan, through its fleets and those of other countries, is catching as much tuna as it possibly can, before the stocks collapse and then it will solely own the market, setting any price it deems worthy on tuna. Japan has its fleets fishing in African waters, putting local fishermen out of business. In return Japan supplied Governments of these underdeveloped countries with funds. In the last CITES meeting held in Doha, countries voted against protection of the Blue Fin Tuna.”

“The only solution to save this specie from total collapse, is now to halt the catch for a period of years to allow the blue fin tuna to recover while at the same time work harder to try and hatch the fish through eggs by aquaculture means. It has recently been reported that some success has already been registered in this area. While this is positive, the fact that the tuna is still being caught may then result that when the break through is made, aquaculture will not find adults to produce eggs for this industry and then it will be too late.”

Nature Trust said that it urges the public to make the right choice and not eat blue fin tuna, which is a critically endangered species, facing extinction. The demand for its meat and the increase in popularity of sushi and sashimi restaurants has led to the depletion of this species.

“Should you wish to protect the blue fin tuna, voice your opinion by writing to your local government urging it to vote for a complete moratorium on fishing for this species to allow time for population recovery.”

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