November 19, 2013 — Everyone involved — from non-governmental organizations to harvesters to member governments — needs to be patient. Only time will tell the best course of action for bluefin stock recovery, and it seems to be on the right track. What’s one more year to wait for the next stock assessment to be sure that the recent efforts have been effective?
The 23rd annual International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting to negotiate a quota for bluefin tuna is this week, and already environmental organizations are having their say.
Both World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Pew Conservation Trust have stated that an increased quota — which is supported by ICCAT and being pushed for by member governments — is the wrong path.
WWF claims there was no scientific evidence conducted this year to support a quota increase, but if that’s the case, that means there’s no evidence to refute an increase in the quota, either.
ICCAT last month released its Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) report showing data that supports a small quota increase for Atlantic bluefin.
Read the full opinion piece at Seafood Source