Magnificient bluefin tuna is in danger of becoming extinct

Opinion: March 4, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By Rob Kramer

McClatchy-Tribune

For avid anglers, few things in life can match the thrill of catching a bluefin tuna. And for good reason. The sheer power and brute force of a bluefin tuna is nothing short of astonishing. Anglers who have been lucky enough to tangle with a bluefin will no doubt remember that experience forever. But unless we act now, these opportunities to hook up with one of the ocean’s most magnificent and awe-inspiring animals may soon become a thing of the past.

Fortunately, a historic moment for conservation of Atlantic bluefin tuna is near. This month, representatives from 175 countries will meet in Doha, Qatar, for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In effect since 1975, the CITES treaty establishes rules for international trade to protect plants and animals from commercial overexploitation.

Valuable fish

More than 40 proposals are on this year’s agenda, but one — a proposal to enact the highest level of protection for Atlantic bluefin tuna — stands out as a tremendous step forward to halt the decline of an extremely valuable sport and food fish. The outcome of this seemingly distant debate could have a real direct impact, not only on anglers in the United States but throughout the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

Sport fishermen are not alone in their quest. Bluefin tuna, known for their delicious meat and revered by sushi chefs and diners around the world, are so sought after that a 511-pound fish sold recently at Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji fish market for $175,000. Yet, even though fishing for bluefin dates back to the Roman Empire, the post-World War II industrialization of the fishing fleet has pushed this species to the brink.

Indeed, estimates indicate that there are only roughly 41,000 mature bluefin left in the Western Atlantic — down from more than 220,000 just 40 years ago. Recently Monaco called for the strongest possible protections for Atlantic bluefin tuna populations. Under consideration during the March meeting, the proposal would prohibit all international commercial trade in Atlantic bluefin.

Chance to rebuild

In no way, however, would this proposal prevent U.S. anglers from catching bluefin tuna. In fact, there’s a good chance this proposal would actually increase recreational fishing opportunities since Atlantic bluefin populations would finally have a chance to rebuild.

And in light of President Obama’s recent call for ideas grounded in science that can attract bipartisan support, U.S. delegates to the CITES meeting must seize the opportunity to protect this important game fish from collapse.

Few fish species command as much respect from anglers as Atlantic bluefin and the momentum has never been stronger to restore populations.

Rob Kramer is the president of the International Game Fish Association, Dania Beach, Fla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.