WWF warns of overfishing

Bluefin Tuna in danger, organisation says

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has urged countries meeting in Brazil to agree a temporary fishing ban for the Atlantic bluefin tuna - described as an essential measure to avoid 'imminent stock collapse'.

According to the WWF, recent scientific evidence shows that the tuna’s spawning population has declined to below 15 per cent of pre-fishing levels – and could even have dropped to under 10 per cent. The organisation says the bluefin tuna could effectively disappear by 2012 due to over-fishing.

Last year, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas failed to take action, resulting in a proposal to list the species on Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Now the 48 members of the Commission are once again under pressure to decide on measures that will ensure the long-term survival of a species.

“WWF wants to see Atlantic bluefin tuna surviving long into the future – both the amazing species and the fishing industry it has supported for thousands of years," said Sally Bailey, Marine Programme Manager at WWF-UK.

If the Commission doesn't act, the WWF says the species could be fished to extinction.