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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 36 Number 12
August 2009
Countries back CITES bluefin trade ban; US undecided
ARLINGTON, VA – Momentum is building on both sides of the Atlantic to severely restrict or even ban international trade of bluefin tuna in the run-up to next year’s meeting of nations that have signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, commonly known as CITES.
In a July 13 Federal Register notice, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said it had not yet decided whether to submit a CITES listing proposal for bluefin or for several species of sharks, including makos, porbeagles, and spiny dogfish. The notice asked the public to provide additional biological and trade information on these species.
However, regardless of what the US decides, there likely will be a listing proposal for bluefin at the CITES meeting.
On June 5, the Wall Street Journal published an op-ed piece co-authored by Albert Grimaldi, the sovereign prince of Monaco, and Charles Clover, author of “The End of the Line,” which has been made into a controversial antifishing film (see CFN July 2009).
In the opinion piece, Grimaldi stated that Monaco would propose a CITES Appendix I listing, which, if authorized, effectively would prohibit international trade of Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin. And he called on the US to support the proposal.
“If the listing is to succeed, Monaco’s main partner needs to be the US,” the op-ed stated. “It would not be the first time that the US has stepped in to help a Europe that is unable to help itself.”
Prince Albert noted that Monaco is not a member of the European Union (EU), which for years has flagrantly violated bluefin quotas set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
Bandwagon
In a surprise announcement on July 16, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France said his country would support a CITES Appendix I listing for bluefin. And, on July 17, British Fisheries Minister Huw Irranca-Davies announced that Britain, too, would support an Appendix 1 listing.
“It seems like a rolling bandwagon,” said Rich Ruais, executive director of the American Bluefin Tuna Association, which has brought together various fishing organizations to fight for US fishermen’s continued access to the fishery. “Expect other countries to jump on over the next several months.”
Ruais has been involved in international fisheries negotiations for nearly three decades. He explained that it will take a three-quarters majority vote of the 175 CITES signatory nations to approve such a listing. The next CITES meeting is scheduled for March 13-25, 2010 in Doha, Qatar.
If such a vote takes place, the ban on trade will go into effect 90 days later.
“Thus,” he said, “this will happen prior to the beginning of the next general category season.”
In comments on his TunaNews.org blog, Ruais wondered if the National Marine Fisheries Service would allow US fishermen to harvest bluefin for domestic markets after a CITES listing.
He also raised concerns about the effect of a listing on “look-alike” species such as bigeye and yellowfin tuna under CITES rules banning or restricting trade on species that can be confused with those being protected.
Irony
Ruais pointed out the irony of Sarkozy’s announcement, since France has been one of the EU fishing nations that has routinely violated ICCAT quotas and strenuously resisted efforts to limit bluefin harvest to levels recommended by scientists.
During its November 2008 meeting, ICCAT adopted a 2009 eastern Atlantic bluefin quota of 22,000 metric tons (mt), a far cry from scientific recommendations that ranged from 8,500 mt to 15,000 mt.
At the time, Sergi Tudela, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Mediterranean’s head of fisheries, called the action “a disgrace” and said it left WWF “little choice but to look elsewhere to save this fishery from itself.” He was referring to CITES, and the organization has been relentlessly campaigning for bluefin protection ever since.
Not surprisingly, WWF welcomed the Sarkozy announcement and encouraged France to follow through.
“We now urge France to put its words into action and be the first country to formally sign up to Monaco’s proposal for CITES Appendix I,” said Tudela. “WWF also appeals to other … states to follow this lead and support the proposal if they want to give bluefin tuna a break and see a healthier fishery again in the years to come.”
US ponders
In its July 13 Federal Register notice, FWS explained that a number of organizations had recommended species for the US to consider proposing for CITES listings. Among them were the Pew Institute for Ocean Conservation Science, SeaWeb, WWF, and Humane Society International.
While it is likely that the US will submit proposals for bobcats, red and pink coral, and an orchid, FWS said it remained undecided on whether to submit proposals for 15 fish species. These included Appendix II listings for several sharks – shortfin mako, longfin mako, porbeagle, requiem, tope, hammerhead, and spiny dogfish.
It also was considering Appendix II listing proposals for devil and manta rays, freshwater stingrays, and American eel, as well as an Appendix I listing for northern bluefin tuna.
Said FWS of its request for additional information from the public on these and other species, “In some cases, we have not completed our consultations with relevant … countries. In other cases, we expect meetings to occur in the immediate future at which participants will generate important recommendations, trade analysis, or biological information.”
In the meantime, FWS is accepting comments concerning potential species proposals through Sept. 11.
Comments can be mailed to: Division of Management Authority, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Dr., Room 212, Arlington, VA 22203. They also may be sent by e-mail to <CoP15@fws.gov> or by fax to (703) 358-2298.
Lorelei Stevens
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