The AP is a news organization I normally trust, not the least reason being that an ethical and talented family member is a journalist there. But not in this case. Reporter Colleen Barrys Big Story on Atlantic bluefin tuna gets a lot wrong. For the record, Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT) are not an endangered species and are not listed as such in the US or Canada. Or the EU. So whats up with this AP headline? ABFT appear to be rebuilding, faster than anticipated, and there are a number of reasons why experts suspect that is occurring. A glaring problem with Barrys story is that neither scientific consensus nor expertise on ABFT is represented fairly. The reporting failed to highlight that the quota increase was based on a scientific consensus and management process and decisions taken by a large body of experts, including NOAA experts- or the nature of rebuilding indicators supporting management decisions. There have been major advances in ABFT international management and rebuilding, so why is this not highlighted? And why have reporters and news organizations turned to advocacy NGOS such as Pew for their science information, rather than credentialed scientists and fisheries managers? And as for who should be taking greater responsibility, if the organization cares so much about the state of our fisheries, why doesnt Pew Oceans Campaign fund more Atlantic tuna science? Fisheries body raises quota on endangered Bluefin By COLLEEN BARRY Nov. 17, 2014 2:01 PM EST MILAN (AP) — A multi-nation fisheries body on Monday raised the quotas for endangered Bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea to the dismay of conservationists, who said the move puts early signs of population recovery at risk. Next years quota for Bluefin tuna off the United States, Canada and Mexico was raised by 14 percent to 2,000 metric tons by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas at the end of an eight-day meeting in the Italian port city of Genoa. It raised the quota for the larger population of Mediterranean Bluefin tuna by 20 percent to 15,821 metric tons next year, with additional 20 percent increases each of the following two years. The fisheries bodys scientific committee said gradual and moderate increases in the catch would not jeopardize the stock health. But the Pew Charitable Trusts said the western Bluefin tuna population off the U.S., Canadian and Mexican coasts remains severely depleted, 15 years into a 20-year rebuild, and that scientific assessments indicate the increased catches could reverse the recovery trend. Amanda Nickson, director of tuna conservation at Pew, said the new quotas are not remotely precautionary. At the first sign of growth this year, ICCAT members chose to go big for more quota, rather than sticking again to a regime that was just starting to work, Nickson said by telephone from Washington, D.C. She said the decision appeared to reflect a lack of political will to put in place responsible management for the medium- to long-term. In the face of the increased catches, the World Wildlife Foundation called on fishers, traders, retailers and consumers to take greater responsibility to ensure Bluefin tuna recovery. Both groups also expressed disappointment at the bodys failure to enact an electronic monitoring system for the fourth straight year that would help crack down on illegal fishing.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 16:59:09 +0000
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