WWF welcomes the announcement that the United States government will vote for a ban on international commercial trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna during a meeting of the largest wildlife trade convention later this month.
Joining a growing list of supporting countries, the US announced this week that it would vote to list the Atlantic bluefin tuna on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
An Appendix I listing would ban all international commercial trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna, giving this endangered species a chance to recover.
“The US has a vested interest in this issue, as a fishing nation of Atlantic bluefin tuna – so if the US can see the bigger picture and back the international trade ban proposal for the long-term survival of a species and a fishery, all countries can and should do so,” said Dr Sergi Tudela, WWF tuna expert.
In addition, the US is not asking for any conditions or delays of the ban unlike France and the European Commission.
“WWF now urges EU member countries to follow the US lead and drop any conditions in their own backing for the international trade ban, and calls on all CITES members to support the Appendix I proposal at the Doha Conference of the Parties. The time to save Atlantic bluefin tuna is now, and with a concerted global effort, we can do this,” said Dr Tudela.
