EU Fisheries Chief Calls For Suspension Of Libyan Bluefin Fishing - Fears Depletion, You See . .

[hatrack]

:eyes:

The European Union's fisheries chief has called for the suspension of Libya's fishing rights for the Atlantic bluefin tuna, fearing the endangered fish could be further depleted amid the confusion of war.

An Atlantic bluefin can grow to the size of a horse and fetch more than $100,000 in markets such as Japan, but stocks have plunged by more than 80 percent since the 1970s, scientists say.

EU fisheries chief Maria Damanaki fears Libya is in no position to regulate its fishing fleets when bluefin come to spawn in the Mediterranean in May or June.

EDIT

She called for Libya's fishing rights for Atlantic bluefin tuna to be "temporarily suspended until Libya is able to ensure the respect of all ICCAT provisions." Last November, ICCAT set a 2011 quota of 12,900 tonnes, down 600 from 2010, ignoring calls from conservation groups for deeper cuts.

Ed. - emphasis added.

EDIT/END

http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61652