By Oluwaseun Owosekun
On March 4, 2010, the Obama Administration announced its support for the complete ban on international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna proposed in Europe under the United Nations Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species. Conservationists and their supporters are probably delighted about this major endorsement by the United States government and naturally, commercial fishermen are mostly definitely not happy about it. Considering this proposed ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna trade is an international effort not supported by all countries especially Japan, the largest consumer of this fish. How would this new law be enforced? What would be the punishment for countries that violate this law? How would commercial fishermen whose livelihoods depend on the trade of the Atlantic bluefin tuna be compensated?
Laws have been passed throughout history to protect endangered species like gorillas, monkeys, and tigers; however, we still have illegal trade of these animals going on all over the world. I am not very hopeful that this proposed ban would work because harvesting of these fishes takes place on the ocean. How does the enforcing body plan to keep watch over every country in the world to see who is violating the ban or not?
Source: Obama Administration to Back Ban on Bluefin Tuna Trade - AOL News
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Unfortunately, regulations were in place for the upcoming season that would have reversed the overfishing trend.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the O'Bama administration jumped into this inadvisable and now the US and Canadian fishermen who are the only ones who have fished conservatively will be hurt.