5 Stories About Overfishing & What Can Be Done to Stop It

4. The Plight of Bluefin Tuna

One of the most graphic examples of what can happen to a species -- and how science and politics are often estranged partners when it comes to overfishing -- is shown in what's happened to Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. In short, at present fishing rates, these giant fish, which have fed Europe for over 2,000 years, will be gone in three years.

This is the intersection of politics and science part: At the end of last year, even though conservation groups and scientists across the globe were recommending that quota levels be radically reduced or a moratorium on fishing imposed, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna paid no attention to those calls, and in what the WWF called a "mockery of science" left quota levels unchanged.

Though it wasn't stated as the reason, behind the scenes politicking was cited as being at the root of the inaction.

Since then Monaco has led the international effort to enact a ban on trade in bluefin tuna under CITES; France and the UK quickly lent support to the move. We won't know until March 2010 how successful that campaign will be.

You Can Still Buy Bluefin Though
As it stands now though, even though it's an endangered species, you can still buy bluefin tuna in some restaurants. Perhaps the most prominent, and ludicrous, example is Nobu: The uber-upscale chain of sushi restaurants was found to be serving bluefin, and called out on it.

Rather than stopping serving the fish, they put moronic warning labels on their menus warning customers that the fish was "threatened" (even though it's endangered -- like tigers, or pandas, or rhinos) and that they should use their judgement.

photos, above: Alexandre Dulaunoy via flickr; below: Monterery Bay Aquarium

5. What Customers & Companies Can Do

Not everyplace is as insensitive as Nobu when it comes to serving endangered or (genuinely) threatened fish.

One prominent example occurred very recently, when the world's largest contract caterer, Compass Group, decided to follow the advice of the Marine Conservation Society and ban some 69 at-risk fish species from all of its restaurants, cafeterias, events, and take-out options. Furthermore, the ban would remain in place until the MCS delisted a fish.

On a more personal level, perhaps the most effective way to guide your seafood choices is to carry a sustainable seafood cheat sheet which lists species which are good options, as well as those which you should be wary of (usually depending on where the fish came from or how it was caught), and those which you should avoid, full stop. You can now also get sustainable seafood card for your iPhone as well.

I've linked one from the Monterey Bay Aquarium above, but a number of organizations put them out, and tailor them for your specific geographic region.

More on Overfishing
How Overfishing Almost Got Capt. Phillips Killed by Pirates
Global Fisheries Hit by Climate Change and Overfishing
Is This the End of the Line for Fish?

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