A show of Concern

By Adam Konder

In what may be viewed as an attempt by the Japanese government to show that they are taking steps to protect the Atlantic bluefin, Japan has suspended the importation of about 2200 tons of farmed Atlantic bluefin tuna. The reasons for the suspension are discrepancies in documentation relating to the catch. According to the Mainichi News, “Japanese Fisheries Agency has found flaws with the dates on the catch documents attached to the export under ICCAT rules, and notified the European Union that it would not permit the import”. This Documentation system is related to measures implemented by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Japan may be posturing in an attempt to offer an alternate solution other than the CITES proposed ban on bluefin trade.

Japan has claimed that it does not oppose blufin conservation, but believes that regional fisheries bodies like ICCAT should regulate the issue. There is a fear that the CITES ban would be too inflexible. Japan feels that the purpose of CITES is to protect endangered species and according to top representative Hirofumi Hirano, he, “personally doubt(s) that bluefin tuna is currently facing such a situation. As of now, Japan “consumes percent of the worlds yearly catch” of blufin. Japanese officials have stated that they will oppose the CITES ban.

Whether Japan is trying to show that they are taking steps to reduce overfishing by adhering to ICCAT measures or not, the CITES ban may go forward. There are many who view the ICCAT as an ineffectual organization, which cannot effectively regulate blufin overfishing.




http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20100311p2g00m0in030000c.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8561751.stm

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/KI16Dh01.html