Europe Finally Bans Bluefin Tuna Fishing

As of June 10, Europe’s fisheries chief has banned large-scale fishing for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean and east Atlantic .

After decades of overfishing, largely to supply Japan’s insatiable appetite for sushi, tuna stocks are almost entirely depleted and are near extinction – the ban which will be in place for this fishing season.

Tune declined 60% between 1997-2007 in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.

In September, Mediterranean nations unexpectedly voted against the proposal to back a worldwide ban on bluefin tuna fishing to help depleted stocks recover. They said too many jobs were at stake during a recession, but the fact is too many jobs are permanently at risk if there is no tuna.

Thank you, Europe!