Europe support bid to protect Bluefin tuna

The over fished species may be added to the endangered species list in a bid to protect this highly prized fish species, fished to unsustainable levels from the Mediterranean. Pending further scientific evidence on the state of bluefin tuna stocks, the European commission may back a bid to ban all international trade in the fish.

Environmentalists have expressed delight at this new development to protect a species in high demand from Japan, the country imports 90% of the bluefin tuna catch for sushi. The small size of fish in the markets and a dramatic decline in population numbers suggest stocks are on the edge of collapse.

Previously, European countries have been divided on this issue, as Malta, the centre of the bluefin tuna industry, Italy and Spain who are believed to have large commerical interest in the industry refused a complete ban in trade. Read more.