now for blue fin tuna

[Ken Gargett]

in the whaling thread, some members remarked on the plight of the blue fin tuna. they will hopefully be delighted that sea shepherd has now turned to assist them in the med.

i'm hoping that the cut and paste works.

…It is an Amazing Creature

For millions of years, the most incredible of all the world's fishes has swum our oceans. The bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is the fastest fish in the sea, one of the largest fish in the ocean, and a marvel of creation – unique in that is a warm-blooded animal.. This allows them to inhabit areas of the ocean that are very cold.

Bluefin tuna (BFT) are one of the top predators of the seas – they eat just about anything and travel great distances, swimming up to 55 miles per hour, to find their prey. Through tagging programs they have been found feeding from the surface down to 3,000 feet. Very few people have ever seen them while diving or snorkeling, as they typically inhabit deep waters.

BFT live up to 30 years (!) and reach maturity at 8 years.

…It is Being Fished Out of Existence

Unfortunately, it is the favored fish of sushi restaurants worldwide, especially in Japan, and that is the reason that this magnificent creature is now on the fast track to biological extinction.

One fish sold for US$173,000 recently. With that kind of financial incentive, it is impossible to expect common sense to reign. Governments have proven to be incapable of putting a stop to this carnage due to the deep pockets of the fishing industry, and corruption is rampant.

…It has been Abandoned by Protection Agencies

On March 18^th, at the general assembly of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), governments rejected trade bans for bluefin tuna.

The decision occurred after Japan, Canada, and many poor nations opposed the measure.

Stocks of bluefin tuna have fallen by at least 85% since the industrial fishing era began. Bluefin quotas are set at a ludicrously high 13,500 tons by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), but realistically over 60,000 tons are killed every year. The scientific community believes bluefin tuna is at a high risk of

fisheries and stock collapse in the Mediterranean Sea in less than 5 years. The quota is too high, it is not enforced, and there is insufficient political willpower to act – the same old story.

ICCAT is the governing body that sets limits on the amount and location of tuna to be caught. This commission is as effective in regulating the killing of tuna as the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) was in overseeing the overfishing of Cod off the Newfoundland coast.

You may recall that Sea Shepherd successfully chased a fleet of Cuban trawlers off the Grand Banks in 1994, for which Captain Paul Watson was arrested and put on trial for interfering with commercial fishing. Years later he was acquitted, but it was too late for the cod. The catches were down so low – 1% of historic levels – that the DFO had to declare the fishery closed, saying that they would re-open it in two years. Now here we are 15 years later and the cod population has still not recovered, and the fishery is still closed to commercial fishing.

…Because of the State Of The World's Fisheries

Why save the bluefin? Because every commercial fishery in the world is presently in a state of collapse. Captain Paul Watson, founder and president of Sea Shepherd, predicts that there will be no commercial fisheries operating in three to four decades from now.

…Because Sea Shepherd Cares about Fish

We have a history of defending fish of all kinds. Besides being the leading voice for the conservation of fish species, we "walk the walk" taking our ships out on the high seas to defend these defenseless creatures. From driftnet campaigns, the tuna-dolphin fight, chasing drag trawlers, to dropping "net cutters" on the ocean floor, Sea Shepherd employs direct action to stop the overfishing of our oceans.

Read the history of Sea Shepherd Fish Defense Campaign

[Colt45]

Wasabi !!

[Ken Gargett]

rob, i should add that there is a mention of cuban trawlers in there and no doubt some crew smoked cigars so i guess that is fair connection.

[El Presidente]

I really like Tuna.

[anacostiakat]

I really like Tuna.

Tuna. . . Chicken of the Sea!

[El Presidente]

Tuna. . . Chicken of the Sea!

You just can't get enough.......

[Trevor2118]

You just can't get enough.......

Not if Ken has his way.

[maximus]

i agree with ken...it is disgusting how this is happening all around the world and not just the bluefin..funny how japan has a major hand in this also...who are we to think we can just rape the ocean of all these beautiful animals until there are none left...what about the bloody sharks that have there fins cut off and then just thrown back in the ocean to die like they are nothing..i would like just 5 minutes with these guys...they even do it to the baby sharks to get a fin no bigger than your finger..and guess who is behind the buying of the fins. you guessed it japan...not to mention the dolphins they round up into the bays and slaughter..IMO one of lifes great injustices is how if a shark attacks and kills a person..all of a sudden theres a shark hunt on to catch it and hundreds die...IMO if you are in a animals natural habitat and you get attacked you cant blame the animal..its not like you were sunbaking between the flags and the shark came up on the beach and chomped your ass ....sorry for the tangent but as a vegetarian this strikes a nerve..a bloody big one

[El Presidente]

Dean there are very big operators out of South Australia who go out to see and LIVE NET Bluefin Tuna and slowly bring schools or a couple of hundred thousand Tuna back to shore for processing.

These are Aussies. Not Japanese. Japan may be the end market but we are the ones "raping" "our" oceans and selling to them.

This is what appalls me of this debate. The fact that one country is being blamed for the extinction of marine life HOWEVER ever bloody non Japanese commercial fisherman (and many countries) are more than prepared to sell their soul to them for a higher dollar. Hypocrisy personified.

Don't get me started on the harvesting of vegetables

[El Presidente]

two words Maximus

.....Baby Carrots!

Appalling!

[maximus]

fair cop prez fair cop....just gets me a little angry and i shoot from the hip i guess....apologies...and your right and duely noted...

[maximus]

your a funny man rob ayala a funny man

[El Presidente]

fair cop prez fair cop....just gets me a little angry and i shoot from the hip i guess....apologies...and your right and duely noted...

Seriously....I am? WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!

[Ken Gargett]

i agree with ken...it is disgusting how this is happening all around the world and not just the bluefin..funny how japan has a major hand in this also...who are we to think we can just rape the ocean of all these beautiful animals until there are none left...what about the bloody sharks that have there fins cut off and then just thrown back in the ocean to die like they are nothing..i would like just 5 minutes with these guys...they even do it to the baby sharks to get a fin no bigger than your finger..and guess who is behind the buying of the fins. you guessed it japan...not to mention the dolphins they round up into the bays and slaughter..IMO one of lifes great injustices is how if a shark attacks and kills a person..all of a sudden theres a shark hunt on to catch it and hundreds die...IMO if you are in a animals natural habitat and you get attacked you cant blame the animal..its not like you were sunbaking between the flags and the shark came up on the beach and chomped your ass ....sorry for the tangent but as a vegetarian this strikes a nerve..a bloody big one

as rob says, japan are far from the only culprit here. the sea shepherd operation will be in the mediterrean where the slaughter is as bad as anywhere, if not worse.

and it would be unfair to attack japan solely re the shark fins - i suspect that china may have more to answer for here.

i'm certainly no vegetation and i eat a lot of tuna, though you can be certain i'm not out there eating blue fin for big bucks, but it has to be done sustainably.

look at what has happened with the sturgeon. how long before we have fake blue fin, as we had and have fake beluga?

there is an excellent book simply called 'cod' (mark kurlinsky, off the top of head) which will show how unbelievably extensive that fish was before humans all but wiped it out.

you can't get them back once they are gone.

[maximus]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm baby carrots........no heart,,,no blood,,,,no brain,,,,feels no pain,,,,,and no the middle of a carrot is not called the heart.....ha ha..el presidente...aka the red baron

[Colt45]

Seriously....I am? WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!

not really.

[El Presidente]

not really.

spoilsport!

[Colt45]

spoilsport!

Hey, you know me - the voice of reason in the midst of chaos.

[jay8354]

I see that it is attacking the Asians this week

First Whales, now Blue Fin Tuna and Sharks.

From my personal point of view, I have to agree with both Rob and Ken.

The Whole world is over fishing Tuna, not just blue fins. However, with the price for quality tuna the way they are, how do you tell the fishing industry to stop.

Don't forget, tuna is not just for Sashimi (the way God intended) but also all the cans of tuna (created by the devil himself).

As for Shark Fin, this I have to admit is more a status thing with Asians. Just ban the stuff and people will eat something else. Culturally, not really a big loss for me. However, I find that people with money will always find a way. Also, just because some countries don't allow it, does not mean it is going to be a world wide thing.

China is going to be eating the majority of Shark Fin as the people are more affluent. But how do you tell a super power country with lots of money to ban something they want to eat??

The same goes with Japan and whaling. There was a documentary here few months ago about fishing in Japan and it did touch on the topics of whaling and tuna.

Whaling - Japanese people doesn't like to be told what to do. Period. Just because the new generation doesn't eat much whale meat doesn't mean the Japanese don't want to catch some. As with any country, this is going take a long time to resolve (young generation vs older generation thinking). Not to mention, Japan feels hard done when other countries are able to catch them without being on world news everywhere.

The documentary also stated that the Japanese have managed to start a Tuna farm. It is still in early days but viable. However, the conversion ratio is terrible. 50Kg of sardines to approx 10Kg of tuna.

Like my dad have been saying, "Eat fish now son, soon they will all be gone"

[Fuzz AI]

Like my dad have been saying, "Eat fish now son, soon they will all be gone"

Screw that! Let's go back to the ways of our ancient ancestors.... eat people! Gives new meaning to Chinese take-away!!

[mazolaman]

Personally,I havent eaten fish for 2 years,having read several articles,and the seen"the end of the line".

It isn't a case of being racist towards any nation,it is purely a case of concern against the anhialaltion of species,IMO.

By the same token,as the seashepherd demonstrates,there should be no room for pandering to any nations feelings,or positive descrimination.

China is definitely the major market for sharkfin,and tiger for that matter.

Tuna is eaten worldwide.

As mentioned previously,Japanese companies are currently catching tuna and instantly freezing them,in huge factory ships,for when they are extinct,and the value rises.........

See the film "the end of the line" for sources.

We have apparently fished 80% of the worlds fish.

[Ken Gargett]

I see that it is attacking the Asians this week

i assure you that i am appalled at any nation that condones whaling. and as mentioned above, the blue fin tuna efforts will be centred in the mediterrean.

and i've had just as much 'fun' with locals with the ridiculous netting program, now finally stopped, up the east coast. the economics alone made that so dumb. they were hauling anything that fell into a net out of the sea and selling most of it for cat food at about 20c a kilo or far less. and complaining about rec fishermen. the fraction they take - which authorities still dispute - compared to the netters was hardly worth a mention and the money they put into the local economy meant that even for politicians, it should have been a no-brainer. hiring of accomodation, hiring or purchase of suitable vehicles, buying gear, buying grog to take on the trips, camping fees, buying bait at local stores and on and on and yet 20c a kilo was more attractive. dumb, dumb, dumb.

the farming of tuna is a good start - off south aussie they are using fish pellts but there are still problems. at least it is a step in the right direction.

[FlyingFossil]

I'm sure that all of the fishermen who danlge a line over the years are absolutly disgusted wit the state of affairs of comercial fishing ..

But we should really blame the correct culprits.. the pet food industry has alot to answer for they use everything for cat food and the demand is absolutly enormous ... as long as there's a demand the supply will dwindle...

If your disgusted with the blue fin ... are you guys just as disgusted with the restaurants that serve Sword fish ? or what about Marlin ?? they take a long time to reach maturity and reproduce.

Last time I was in Merimbula a professional fishermen killed over 100 marlin/sword fish and could not even sell it to a procesing plant in Eden for pet food ... guess what happend to all the dead fish ?

That was in 2008 ....

and yes the blue fin are endangered but I can tell you they are coming back in numbers in Victoria just look at the catches lately 154Kg on a rod

cheers big ears

[Warren]

Screw that! Let's go back to the ways of our ancient ancestors.... eat people! Gives new meaning to Chinese take-away!!

Anyone for a nice plate of soilent green.

[joeypots]

There is a great book, Cod, By Mark Kurlansky. While not specifically about Tuna, the example of the depletion of the cod in North East America serves as an example of what happens to a fishery as we develope the technology to take all of it. All of the big fish are or will be gone shortly unless we stop. Kurlansky uses the North American Buffalo to make a point. The decimation of the cod was an ecological disaster like that of the buffalo, but we can see buffalo, so we respond on a visceral level. He makes the point that he never met a fisherman who didn't say the cod were coming back and never met a ocean scientist that didn't say they were going instinct.Its a great read.

http://www.amazon.com/Cod-Biography-Fish-C...5887&sr=1-1