WWF–UK has said that it is delighted that the UK Government has taken a strong position calling for an international trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna.
The UK has lent its support for an Appendix I listing at the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting in Doha this year. With support from Italy, France and the UK, pressure is now mounting on Spain, who hold the EU presidency, other EU member States and the European Commission to follow suit.
Heather Sohl, Species Trade & Policy Officer at WWF-UK, says:
“An international trade ban is the last hope for threatened Atlantic bluefin tuna, following decades of overfishing and mismanagement of the remaining stocks. UK support for this ban is crucial and WWF is delighted that the UK Government has shown a strong commitment to protect this species. We hope this announcement will build further momentum towards agreement of an immediate and unconditional Appendix I listing at the CITES meeting in March.”
