Tria Widyakumala 11 / 10 / 2011 Subject

Environmental Negotiations in International Affairs Southern Bluefin Tuna

: Threatened Species: Southern Bluefin Tuna

Background : Southern Bluefin Tuna or Thunnus Macoyyi is one of the highly migratory fishes and is one of the most expensive fishes in the world. However this species is becoming a threatened species as the world demands of this fish become higher for its medium flavored flesh which is claimed to be the best eating raw fish in the world.1 This species has been added as Critically Endangered in International Union for Conservation of Nature and Greenpeace International Red List. Facts

: In 2002, 2003, and 2004, the global catch of SBT is more than 4 millions tons which is 10 times amount in 1950. It is reported that this changes was caused by tuna fishing vessels 70 % larger than is needed.2 The oldest Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) is International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in 1969. However it is criticized as international disgrace and also referred to a nickname The International Conspiracy to Catch All Tunas3 Other RFMOs about SBT are Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and Convention for the Conservation of the Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT). Even though these RFMOs concern is the reduced population of SBT, the main goal is impose quotas to Contracting Parties. Japan admitted that its fishing vessels had caught more than one-third of the SBT than it was entitled under international law. Japan was entitled to catch 6000 tons but reported to catch 12.000 tons. As a punishment, the quota for Japan was cut in half to 3000 tons (under CCSBT).4 In 2010, the proposal to ban the export of Atlantic tuna by declaring that bluefin tuna is an endangered species failed to become enacted in Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITIES) annual meeting. Some of the arguments were the ban might hurt the fisherman in developing countries and the labeling bluefin tuna as endangered was not scientifically justified.5

Analysis : The cooperation of the contracting parties of the RFMO is obviously needed because large amount of SBT that caught, which the amount of the illegal fishing has not included. The RFMO and other organizations are still focusing on the economic sector of the treaty. The conservation action that has been proposed has not succeed convincing consuming party about the economic changes eventually when SBT is completely endangered. Recommendation : Some of the acts of SBT conservation have been implemented which are tuna farming which is helpful for preventing the extinctive of SBT, however this farming may impose another international environmental problem. The use of chemical on tuna farms can leech to the surrounding environment.6 Another implemented action is to standardize the size of SBT to catch. The proposal to ban the export of Atlantic tuna is recommended because it may lead to another act of protecting the SBT. Regarding the IPOA-IUU with good faith, banning fishing fleets to enter SBT overexploited areas.

Tria Widyakumala 11 / 10 / 2011

1 Southern

Environmental Negotiations in International Affairs Southern Bluefin Tuna

Bluefin Tuna http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/ Southern_bluefin_tuna, 7th November 2011. 2 Japans Sacred Bluefin, Loved Too Much http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ content/article/2007/11/10/AR2007111001669_2.html, 7th November 2011 3 Managed to Death http://www.economist.com/node/12502783?story_id=12502783, 7th November 2011 4 Japans Sacred Bluefin, Loved Too Much Id. 5Bluefin Tuna Fishing and Japan: Big Fish, Hogh Prices, Quotas, Proposed Bans, Stockpiles and Bluefin Fish Farms, http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php? itemid=936&catid=24&subcatid=159, 8th November 2011 6 Southern Bluefin Tuna http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_bluefin_tuna, 8th November 2011