European, Japanese Boats Converge on Coral Triangle, Southeast Asian Tuna Too Faces Collapse
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY 
on 10.21.08
photo: lizardwisdom
The plight of world tuna fisheries continues. According to statements made by WWF, as the Mediterranean bluefin tuna gets places off limits so as to avoid total collapse of the fishery, more ships will be heading in the so-called Coral Triangle (the seas bounded by the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Malaysia). As this area is spawning and nursing grounds for 89% of the world’s tuna, unless collective action is taken in this area as well, tuna stocks there face collapse.
WWF researcher Lida Pet Soede:
Regional, Global Cooperation Needed
The larger context of the Coral Triangle, where there are still very important spawning grounds for a number of very valuable tuna species is critical. Regional collaboration around management of this global commodity is pretty obvious. If you can’t agree on managing this commodity together, everybody is going to get hurt. (AFP/Yahoo News)
Small-Scale Fishermen Not the Problem
Though, an official from the Indonesia fisheries ministry said that the nation was having trouble regulating tuna fishing due its fleet consisting mostly of small, unlicensed boats, a recent study indicates that small-scale fishing isn’t nearly the problem that industrial fishing is.
The report went on to say that without fuel subsidies industrial fishing would be unprofitable and that if small-scale fishing was encouraged (especially in developing nations) then fish stocks would have a better chance of recovery.
via: AFP/Yahoo News
Overfishing
Fuel Subsidies Simply Prop Up Destructive Industrial Fishing, Hurt Small-Scale Fishermen: Report Claims
Global Fisheries Hit by Climate Change and Overfishing
Catch-Share System Could Save World’s Fisheries From Collapse
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Maybe, I'm being too simplistic but wouldn't it be a good idea for Treehugger to suggest we don't buy Tuna...
My cat, who has a very small carbon footprint, absolutely refuses to give up his one luxury: Tuna. So watch it, buster! He can give off attitude that will leave you feeling miserable if you're not careful.
Don't buy tuna? It's so cheap though!
Maybe, we need to try something new. Let's try a reverse boycott. I say that we employ market fundamentals against the tuna companies. We need to shock the market. Here's how it works:
1. Everyone buy as much tuna as possible to make sure the grocery shelves are bare at all times.
2. Tuna fishermen will catch as much as they can in the hopes of making more money than they've ever seen before.
3. This increase in demand will increase prices all around the world as the fish stocks crash.
4. Only wealthy folks in industrialized countries will be able to afford such a luxury. Tuna won't be sold in a cheap tin can anymore, it'll only be sold as steaks - perfect for grilling at $25/lb
5. Finally tuna will eventually make a full rebound. Unfortunately, the businesses that depend on it will not perform as well. In today's market of business and bank failures, they'll go belly up.
THE TIME IS NOW. LET'S STRIKE HARD. ARE YOU WITH ME??