The story of Bluefin Tuna is one of profits before conservation.
Recently, the governments of the world failed to protect Northern Bluefin Tuna at the global meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Japan consumes 80% of the world’s fished Northern Bluefin Tuna. Unsurprisingly, it was also lobbying against the species’ protection in favour of continued lucrative trade.
This spells disaster for the future of Northern Bluefin Tuna and sets the species on a path to extinction.
Remaining populations of its southern hemisphere cousin, the critically endangered Southern Bluefin Tuna, are down to a tiny 4.6 per cent. Bluefin is the first casualty in the tuna overfishing crisis. Next on the list are overfished Yellowfin and Bigeye, found in our neighbouring Pacific Ocean.
Globally, all tuna is being decimated.
Right now, our supermarkets are selling us this overfished tuna in the canned tuna on their shelves, including their own brands.
What you can do
We’ve released the Canned Tuna Guide, which helps consumers avoid overfished tuna. You can see how your favourite brand of tuna rates on sustainability.
You can also help by asking supermarkets to remove the worst canned tuna brands from their shelves.
Australian government review of Bluefin Tuna fisheries
Right now, you can have your say about Australia’s fishing of critically endangered Southern Bluefin Tuna. The government is calling for public submissions under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Australia catches the juvenile Southern Bluefin Tuna before they reach breeding age, destroying any opportunity to replenish the already collapsed level of wildstock. The Australian Government must end fishing and trade for the critically endangered Southern Bluefin Tuna.
