Bluefin Tuna II - クロマグロ 2

In November 2014, the IUCN updated the Red List of Threatened Species and the Pacific Bluefin Tuna was moved from the category of 'Least Concern' to 'Vulnerable.'

https://www.iucn.org/content/global-appetite-resources-pushing-new-species-brink-%E2%80%93-iucn-red-list

The Pacific Bluefin Tuna population fell to only 2.6% of its 'unfished' size according to the assessment released by the International Science Committee of Tuna and Tuna-like in the North Pacific Ocean (ISC) in 2016.

https://swfsc.noaa.gov/uploadedFiles/Divisions/FRD/HMS/PBF_SWFSC_StockAssmt_FAQs_update_Apr2016.pdf


2.6% !!!

This is something like there would be 260 people left in a town which would have had 10,000 people before. That is the situation of the Pacific Bluefin Tuna left in the wild at the moment.

Although the number of a species continuously goes up and down in the wild, the decline of the number of the Pacific Bluefin Tuna is believed to be mainly due to overfishing.

So, who has eaten all the tuna? Well, Japan is the most likely destination after they have got caught.

Over 80% of fresh tuna in the world is consumed in Japan.

There is a paragraph about 'Tuna Consumption Globally' in the page below, which tells you that Japan is by far the top consumer even though more canned tuna was consumed in the US.

http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact-sheets/2012/06/21/global-tuna-fishing

It is true that the demand for Sushi and Japanese cuisine has been increasing all over the world but the fact is that Japan is the biggest threat for the tuna...

Then, what is to be done?

The most effective way is to stop fishing for a certain length of time (a moratorium), or to set very strict regulations.

According to this article in 2015 (in Japanese), the stock of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, which had been in a critical condition, bounced back to triple the number before the moratorium in six years as a consequence of the tough regulations implemented by the countries concerned in the tuna fishery in Europe.

http://www.j-cast.com/tv/2015/04/17233312.html?p=all


The latest article tells a similar story (in Japanese).

https://news.nifty.com/article/domestic/society/12169-28581/

So, then, what about Japan? Have they (we) been making enough effort to leave the fish for our future generations and for our friends on earth, knowing other countries have been trying hard and it is actually working?

Instead, Japan faced harsh (yet fair) criticism from almost all countries, regions and groups in the annual meeting of the WCPFC (Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission) held in December 2016, even with very strong words such as 'Do not manipulate science.' Of course, it has never been reported in the Japanese major media but there is a detailed article by Mr Sanada, who sat in on the meeting as an independent observer.（in Japanese)

http://wedge.ismedia.jp/articles/-/8650

Also, there is an article written by Mr Katsukawa, Associate Professor of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, about the fact that Japanese tuna fishing fleets have been catching fish migrating to the spawning grounds around Okinawa and in the Japan Sea BEFORE they spawn.(in Japanese)

http://wedge.ismedia.jp/articles/-/4896

As far as anyone can see so far, the Japanese love killing (eating) tuna, but as a nation, the Fisheries Agency has not taken action for the future of the tuna as a species and will not do so. And also they have no intention to tell the catastrophic situation to the people. Well, well, well...

In contrast to the government, a group of small-scale fishermen from Iki, a small island off the coast of north Kyushu, decided voluntarily not to fish tuna during their spawning season because they believe good management will keep their way of life.

http://iki-guide.com/?p=2884

The story was in the Guardian as well.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/22/japans-david-vs-goliath-battle-to-preserve-pacific-bluefin-tuna

If Japanese people, who are the biggest threat to the fish, remain ignorant of the facts, just like their government, and keep eating tuna, the whole world will have to say good-bye to this wonderful fish in the very near future. No more tuna for your children, let alone your grandchildren.

I think it is high time that we did something for the tuna and for ourselves.


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