WWF cautiously welcomes the EU Commission’s recommendation that the 27 European Union member countries vote for a ban on international commercial trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna through a listing on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at next month’s meeting in Doha, Qatar.
But WWF is concerned about the Commission’s proposal that entry into force of the ban be conditional on new analysis, a procedure which is neither scientifically justified nor allowed under the CITES rules.
“Backing for the ban of international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna is growing by the day and this latest announcement from the Commission confirms this”, said Dr Sergi Tudela, WWF’s tuna expert. “WWF is pleased to see this growing support but the conditional delay proposed the EU Commission is simply not allowed by CITES – and neither is it scientifically justifiable. The only real choice, if the fishery is to be saved, is to support full implementation of the ban as soon as possible to ensure the species has a chance to recover.”
After the recommendation in Brussels by the newly appointed European Commissioner for Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, and Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the last remaining step to galvanise a formal EU bloc voting position in Doha will be at a European Council meeting between representatives of all 27 EU member state governments. This could happen as late as 15 March – after the opening of the CITES event – but is expected to closely reflect this recommendation from the Commission.
WWF calls on European representatives to drop the conditional implementation proposal and urgently engage the support of the global community for the listing of Atlantic bluefin tuna on CITES Appendix I, which requires the backing of two thirds of the 175 CITES member countries present to be adopted.
