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An analysis of the Mediterranean bluefin tuna population by the WWF shows that the breeding population of the species will be disappear by 2012 if the fisheries continue with business as usual, and urges the immediate closure of the fishery to stop the impending collapse.

“Mediterranean bluefin tuna is on the slippery slope to collapse, and here is the data to prove it. Whichever way you look at it, the Mediterranean bluefin tuna collapse trend is dramatic, it is alarming, and it is happening now.” - Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean

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WWF states that the population of breeding tunas has been in a steep decline for the past ten years and will be totally wiped out in 3 years if fisheries managers and policy makers continue to ignore scientists’ warnings that bluefin fishing must stop completely.

In 2007, the breeding population of the bluefin, which includes fish over four years old and weighing over 35kg, was at 25% of levels in mid-century, and the average size of mature tunas dropped to less than half the size since the ’90s. According to the WWF, these patterns have been recorded across the entire Mediterranean.

“For years people have been asking when the collapse of this fishery will happen, and now we have the answer. Mediterranean bluefin tuna is collapsing as we speak and yet the fishery will kick off again tomorrow for business as usual. It is absurd and inexcusable to open a fishing season when stocks of the target species are collapsing.” - Dr Tudela

The dramatic decline in bluefin populations is attributed to the huge demand in luxury seafood markets, pirate fishing, use of illegal spotting planes for chasing the tuna, overcapacity of the fishing fleets, fishing during the closed season, and under-reporting of the catches (catches exceeding the legal quota).

The conservation organization is calling for an immediate closure of the bluefin fishery to let the species recover. Find out from WWF how you can avoid industrially overfished bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean.

Image: © M. San Felix

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