Quotas push Tuna towards Collapse

Tuna may follow cod to become the second major Atlantic fish species to collapse after European leaders were today accused of driving through new catch quotas far above the levels recommended by scientists.

The international environment campaign group WWF renewed its call for a consumer boycott of Atlantic bluefin tuna – a staple of Japanese sashimi – after countries involved in its trade ignored their own scientific advice, despite a collapse in the fish populations.

WWF also accused the European commission (EC) of leading the pressure for higher quotas by using threats over trade to “bully” developing nations into switching sides from a rival proposal to stick to the scientists’ recommendation and ban all fishing during the spawning season in May and June.

Sue Liebermann, head of species at WWF International, warned that the mistakes which led to the collaspe of Atlantic cod