Dubai: After a single bluefin tuna recently sold for more than Dh650,000 in Japan and made into some of the world's most expensive sushi, the international community is gearing up to meet in Doha next month to vote whether the worldwide export of the critically endangered species should be banned.
The bluefin tuna is fished in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea for the Japanese market, but GCC countries familiar with over fishing and its impact on the hammour, should use their votes to protect the bluefin tuna from being fished to extinction, said one of the bans strong supporters.
More than 170 countries signatory to the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (Cites) will meet in Qatar next month to vote on including the bluefin tuna in Cites Appendix I which prohibits its international trade for commercial use.