Japan, Canada and scores of poor nations opposed the measure on the grounds that ban would devastate fishing economiesA proposal to protect the Atlantic bluefin tuna prized in sushi was rejected at a UN
wildlife meeting today.The decision was reached after Japan, Canada and scores of poor nations opposed the measure on the grounds that banning exports of the fish would devastate fishing economies.Monaco introduced the proposal at the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites). It argued that extreme measures are necessary because the stocks have fallen dramatically and current managing agencies have done nothing to rebuild the stocks.Only the United States,
Norway and Kenya supported the proposal outright. The European Union asked that implementation be delayed until May 2011 to give authorities time to respond to concerns about overfishing.Monaco had proposed adding the bluefin tuna to cites appendix 1, which brings an automatic ban in trade.Bluefin tuna can grow to 3m and weigh more than half a tonne. Much sought after as a delicacy and for sushi, a single fish reportedly sold earlier this year for $120,000.Populations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean have crashed in recent decades and there is no sign that efforts to introduce more sustainable fishing practices have slowed the decline. Scientists say stocks are about 15% of what they were before industrial fishing began.Before the vote, Japan indicated it would opt out from Cites controls if it is passed. It wants bluefin conservation to be managed by regional fishery bodies and blames the decline in stocks on European countries for setting unrealistic quotas and ignoring illegal fishing.Earlier in the day, a US-backed proposal to ban the international trade of
polar bear skins, teeth and claws was also defeated, over concerns it would hurt indigenous economies and arguments the practice did not pose a significant threat to the
animals.FishingMarine lifeEndangered
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