Home
News
In Focus
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more 禄Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
City-born architect lists inspiration behind his designs in a new book
Digitization helps preserve, disseminate intangible cultural heritage
Sunday
- Subscribe
Related News
Time running out for bluefin tuna
Source: Agencies |
April 15, 2009, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
OVERFISHING will wipe out the breeding population of Atlantic bluefin tuna, one of the ocean's largest and fastest predators, in three years unless catches are dramatically reduced, conservation group WWF said yesterday.
As European fishing fleets prepared to begin the two-month Mediterranean fishing season today, WWF said its analysis showed the bluefin tuna that spawn - those aged four years and older - will have disappeared by 2012 at current rates.
"For years people have been asking when the collapse of this fishery will happen, and now we have the answer," said spokesman Sergi Tudela.
The fish, which can weigh over half a tonne and accelerate faster than a sports car, is a favorite for sushi lovers. Demand for tuna has triggered an explosion in the size of the Mediterranean fleet over the past decade and many of those boats use illegal spotter planes to track the fish.
"Mediterranean (Atlantic) bluefin tuna is collapsing as we speak and yet the fishery will kick off again tomorrow for business as usual. It is absurd and inexcusable to open a fishing season when stocks of the target species are collapsing," Tudela added.
Environmental groups condemned an agreement signed last November by states setting bluefin quotas - a body dominated by EU members. The groups called it "a disaster" and "a disgrace," saying the states had ignored their own scientists.
As European fishing fleets prepared to begin the two-month Mediterranean fishing season today, WWF said its analysis showed the bluefin tuna that spawn - those aged four years and older - will have disappeared by 2012 at current rates.
"For years people have been asking when the collapse of this fishery will happen, and now we have the answer," said spokesman Sergi Tudela.
The fish, which can weigh over half a tonne and accelerate faster than a sports car, is a favorite for sushi lovers. Demand for tuna has triggered an explosion in the size of the Mediterranean fleet over the past decade and many of those boats use illegal spotter planes to track the fish.
"Mediterranean (Atlantic) bluefin tuna is collapsing as we speak and yet the fishery will kick off again tomorrow for business as usual. It is absurd and inexcusable to open a fishing season when stocks of the target species are collapsing," Tudela added.
Environmental groups condemned an agreement signed last November by states setting bluefin quotas - a body dominated by EU members. The groups called it "a disaster" and "a disgrace," saying the states had ignored their own scientists.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
