In September 2010 the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) opened a 90-day finding period on a petition to list the Atlantic blue fin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) as endangered or threatened. While US protection of critical spawning habitat in the Gulf of Mexico will be important for ongoing reproduction, these marine animals will still face serious pressure from the fishing industry on the high seas.
Ocean Pollution and Overfishing Affect Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred at the height of blue fin tuna spawning season, in the middle of critical spawning habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. It is now estimated that 20% of juvenile blue fin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico were lost during the BP oil spill. The loss of so many juveniles from an already highly depleted population has serious implications for the long–term survival of the species.
Blue fin tuna is considered one of the best sushi fish. Both the commercial fishing industry and the illegal fishery for blue fin tuna have been fueled by the high prices offered by the sushi market, resulting in overfishing of the species.
The Need for Further Protection for Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna
The Atlantic blue fin tuna was recently listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has, however, failed to list the Atlantic blue fin tuna as Appendix I in 2010. An Appendix I listing would have made it illegal to sell blue fin tuna on the international market, essentially ending commercial fishing of the species.
Understanding the Petition to List Blue Fin Tuna as an Endangered Species
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) petitioned NMFS to have the Atlantic blue fin tuna listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act and to have critical habitat designated for this endangered fish. If the listing goes through and critical habitat is designated, activity within that area would be more strictly regulated and efforts to restore the habitat would be increased.
The 90-day finding period allows interested parties to present evidence of the need for listing the blue fin tuna as an endangered species. It also gives commercial fishing interests the opportunity to present evidence to the contrary. At the end of the comment period, NMFS will decide whether the proposed listing is warranted. If warranted, NMFS will then publish a proposed rule and seek further public comment before making a final determination.
Why US Endangered Species Listing May Not be Enough for the Blue Fin Tuna
Efforts to list the Atlantic blue fin tuna under the Endangered Species Act will go a long way to protecting the spawning grounds in the Gulf of Mexico. But this protection does nothing to reduce the level of fishing in international waters. Both eastern and western stocks of Atlantic blue fin tuna spend time in the open ocean where illegal fishing and overfishing are serious problems. Without international cooperation to protect this endangered fish, it is unlikely that the species will survive long term.
Dawn M. Smith - A vet nurse, Dawn has worked in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation around the world in addition to her veterinary hospital ...
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