Some tuna are too endangered to eat. Bluefin tuna has been so overfished that current populations are not sustainable. Stock levels are under 15 percent of what they once were. Greenpeace has called for a halt to the bluefin harvest. The 175 member countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will meet on March 13-25 in Doha, Qatar, where Atlantic bluefin tuna will be the headline marine species.
According to Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean, "Atlantic bluefin tuna is in a state of severe collapse after decades of overfishing and reproducing stocks are dwindling to an all-time low - and the driver of this situation is clearly international trade," Tudela said. "To give the species a break, an immediate ban of international commercial trade at CITES - without condition or delay - is the only logical step for the global community to take. Anything less is woefully insufficient."
It's clear that no one should be eating bluefin tuna at this time. If sufficient marine sanctuaries and no-fish zones are set up, the resilient tuna could rebound.
But what about other tuna? Bigeye, ahi, and albacore tuna are now rare in many areas where they once flourished. Pole caught is better because it reduces bycatch.How do you know how the fish was caught or if the specific species in the specific region where it was harvested is overfished? There is no way to tell, so the WWF created the Marine Stewardship Council with the idea that consumers needed a certification seal to assure them of the sustainability of the fish they eat. The council recently was accused of failure to protect vulnerable fish populations. Concerns were raised that some applicants were fast-tracked for certification. MSC responded: "In line with the rapid growth of fisheries entering its seafood ecolabel and certification program, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has increased the number of Independent Adjudicators that are available to review and resolve contested certified decisions."
MSC continues to be recommended as a source for consumers to go to as they pursue sustainable consumption of tuna and all seafood. Look for the label on menus and packaging. Tuna and seafood lovers will also find making choices are easier when they use the Monterey Bay Aquarium SeaFood guide. They guides and information are updated frequently. You'll also find a a downloadable pocket guide specific to different regions of the U.S..
A consumer armed with knowledge of the MSC certified label and a Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guide is armed to make intelligent seafood choices. Download your Seafood Watch Guide.
This article is part 2 of Green Living 101: Is tuna safe to eat? Read part one about which tuna are safe to consume.
The End of the Line is a powerful film about one of the world's most disturbing problems - over-fishing. Advances in fishing technology mean whole species of wild fish are under threat and the most important stocks we eat are predicted to be in a state of collapse by 2050.
Read the new report, Turning the Tide: The State of Seafood, to learn more about the threats to our oceans, as well as the significant steps being taken to preserve what remains-and restore what is lost.
Comments