Blue fin tuna population collapsing.

[rolmops]

I was listening to an NPR report about mercury in tuna fish and one of the things mentioned was that fully one third of our blue fins reproduce in the Mediterranean where they are being slaughtered while breeding and the rest reproduces in the Gulf of Mexico where they are caught on long lines that are often up to fifty miles long.
As a result,the commercial fishing limits are down to 10% of what they used to be and the fishermen fail to catch even that limit.
The commercial fishermen are declaring total innocence and blame the Europeans and the sports fishermen.Their representative went so far as to say that americans eat less than the weight of a paper clip of bluefin tuna per year. (He forgot to mention that blue fin is mostly sold to Japan for very ,very good money) Under current law (as of this year) bluefin are not protected from international fleets even within our 200 miles territorial waters.
The scientists insist that a 5 year fishing moratorium is crucial for the survival of the species.
The politicians support whatever lobbying group has the most money or produces the most votes. Tuna have no voting rights.
Have any of you heard about this?And if so,What do you know?

 

[JB]

Re: Blue fin tuna population collapsing.

With the prices of bluefin in Japan I am not surprised.

Last time I checked it was around $50/lb.

Illegal taking of bluefin must be more profitable than smuggling dope.