A powerful new consortium has been formed to help protect threatened tuna in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), made up of conservation groups, scientist and tuna industry workers immediately demanded better protection of dwindling tuna stocks.
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, formed to protect threatened tuna in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, has attacked the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission ahead of their latest meeting
And they launched a scathing attack on the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) for ignoring scientific advice about overfishing and the damage being done to other species such as dolphins, turtles, sharks and seabirds.
The new pressure group claimed that IATTC, made up of 16 member countries with a mandate to regulate fishing fleets to avoid over-exploitation of tuna in the Eastern Pacific, had held six meetings in the past two years but had failed to take a single decision to help the threatened fish.
And it warned that consumers may have to make their voice heard by buying only tuna from responsible processors and brands who are striving to ensure that stocks stay healthy.
The new pressure group said IATTC had ignored warnings not only from conservation groups but from their own scientists calling for immediate action to avoid over-exploitation of stocks.
Tuna stocks continued to fall and were not recovering as member states bickered over the best way to avoid further depletion.
In a statement issued on the eve of the latest IATTC meeting in La Jolla, California, the ISSF said: “Things are not looking good for the fish, especially the region’s bigeye tuna. These highly prized fish may be on the same downward spiral that has taken bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean to the brink of economic extinction.
“And it’s not only the fish that are at risk. Tens of thousands of jobs in poor communities that dot the coasts of Latin America depend on tuna processing for their livelihoods.”
It said hard decisions had to be taken now or the impact on both fish stocks and fishing communities would be much worse.
“If the IATTC does not act soon, it will fall to consumers to make their tuna purchases from responsible processors and brands that offer fish from areas that are acting to ensure that tuna populations stay healthy for the long term,” the statement added.
“This would be not only good business and good news for the fish, but also for the consumers that enjoy tuna that is responsibly captured. But for now, all eyes are on the IATTC.”
RE: New consortium aims to protect threatened tuna species
With so many organizations and experts speaking out about the need for conservation measures in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, it’s hard to argue the legitimacy of such complaints, warnings and criticisms. However, this article is not entirely correct and I would like the opportunity to clarify the position of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF).
ISSF was indeed founded as a partnership between by the tuna industry, science and WWF, the global conservation organization, to follow science-based initiatives for the conservation of tuna.
We have taken a strong, science-based position on the need for IATTC member nations to follow the advice of their Scientific Staff and enact conservations measures – which include closures – for tuna stocks on the Eastern Pacific Ocean. ISSF recently red-listed the EPO bigeye stock and founding members agreed to refrain from transactions in EPO bigeye if conservation measures are not in place by September of this year.
That said, the direct quotations posted in this article come from a collaborative that deserves credit for its position and willingness to act: Conservation International, WWF , The National Fisheries Institute, The Billfish Foundation, The American Fishermen’s Research Foundation (AFRF), The Natural Resources Defense Council, The Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), The Center for Biological Diversity , Fauna & Flora International , BirdLife International, Malpelo Foundation of Colombia and the Ocean Conservancy.
While ISSF shares many of the concerns this collaborative expressed, we did not play a role in the statement – we were merely mentioned.
Please visit us online at http://www.ISS-Foundation.org, I encourage you to learn more about ISSF and its unique role in effecting change for the sake of stocks of tuna worldwide.
I’m happy to answer any questions and can be reached using the contact information below.
Mike Crispino
Manager, Media Communications
International Seafood Sustainability Foundation
PO Box 11110 McLean, Virginia 22102 | Direct Line +1 703-752-8897
Learn more at ISS-Foundation.org
I am so glad that voices are being raised to stimulate evidence-based action on behalf of marine species. Just one small query - still a bit confused about where WWF stands as it seems that WWF International is part of the ISSF and has also signed up to the appeal to IATTC. Is there a conflict between the two initiatives for WWF? Hope not.