Ending the Bluefin Tuna Fishery?

[Dave McReeferson]

I know at least a few of us reefers are into this fishery in one way or another, so I figured I would post this to raise some awareness among those who don't follow any of the fishing boards, and hear the thoughts of those who do...

Rather than copy and pasting, I will just link to the original thread on another forum...

http://www.firstlightanglers.com/bulletin_board/viewtopic.php?t=2060&sid=7e75fdfc0e3d1aa142f4aafef2ab257e

[CaptainAndy]

Another example of how uncooperative international markets are abusing and rapidly depleting this wonderful resource.
US commercial and recreational fishery is heavily regulated already but I don't think that a complete closure of the blue fin market would close down Asian consumption anyway

[APISTOBORELLI]

I saw this on the fishing forum I follow. It's sad. Similar to the whaling done for "research".

[SteveDola]

so it takes 75% of the 175 nations to pass the bill...what happens if many of the asian countries dont vote for it and continue fishing bluefin even after the bill passes? From what Ive read they dont seem very receptive to the idea. who will police their waters?

I think a better idea to have areas of open ocean become off limit to allow for the reproduction cycle to replenish the stock of the endangered fish.

[snowmaker]

I use to hold incidental permit for giant bluefin but do not fish any more.
I think that most every Asian delicacy means the demise of a species.
Giant Bluefin are an oceanic species, not regional, but the laws pertaining to them are regional and that just won't work. The Bluefin and other fisheries cannot overcome the fishing pressure we put on them. This and other fisheries, I think, should be strictly regulated and enforced, but that is difficult at best.
The Tsukiji fish market alone handles over 2000 metric tons of seafood per day and that is only 1 seafood market on the planet (1 of 3 large in Japan). This more than 700,000 metric tons of seafood are handled every year at the three seafood markets in Tokyo, with a total value in excess of approximately 6 billion US dollars. Effectively, Bluefin tuna are thought threatened, but remain off the list because of human demand for it. More precise, they are actually "critically endangered."
The annual consumption of tuna in China skyrocketed 20 times to 4,000 tons in 2005 from 200 tons in 2000, according to Lou Xiaobo, professor at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.
buying bluefin-tuna sashimi is comparable to taking a Siberian-tiger steak home for the barbecue.
In the first auction of 2009, a giant bluefin sold for 9.6m yen. One piece of "otoro" sushi, using the fattest portion of the fish, costs around ¥1,100 in Hong Kong restaurants and ¥2,000 in Ginza.
This is absolutely absurd. We can kiss this species goodbye. It will be gone before you know it. :( Some wealthy Japanese couple will happily eat the last piece in existence and be proud of it.
They also have no regard for whaling, since samples were taken from market covertly - only species was suppose to be Minke, I believe, but samples showed that there were Blue whales, sperm, right, humpbacks... basically whatever was caught was processed. They are serving whale meat in schools to get the young ones "use to it" because it is tradition.... what a bunch of crap.
I'm embarrassed by the actions of my fellow humans.
One root cause - our population (of the planet) is growing faster than we can support (feed) it. Not talking about geology - there is plenty more land, but when it only takes a relatively short time for an expansion of 2x now - not like 2000 or 3000 years ago... there are ...what, 6.8 billion mouths to feed. In maybe 50 years there could be twice that.. I forget the actual figures, but it'll scare you. - Search time it took for population to double 2000 years ago, 1000 years ago, 500, 100 and so on... we are in a heap of Trouble.

[SteveDola]

what history will tell us is that something will happen to drop the numbers of the human race. Our technology and knowledge has increased exponentially to aid humanity to live longer however I think that the natural order will balance off. I guess the question is what will be around after humanity's breaking point? what will we have destroyed? Whether its a plague or asteroid or giant catastrophe I dont think humanity will be allowed to over populate beyond our planets capabilities. JUst my thoughts.

[jojo1n2]

what history will tell us is that something will happen to drop the numbers of the human race. Our technology and knowledge has increased exponentially to aid humanity to live longer however I think that the natural order will balance off. I guess the question is what will be around after humanity's breaking point? what will we have destroyed? Whether its a plague or asteroid or giant catastrophe I dont think humanity will be allowed to over populate beyond our planets capabilities. JUst my thoughts.
I second that, Its sad but true.

[JPags]

what history will tell us is that something will happen to drop the numbers of the human race. Our technology and knowledge has increased exponentially to aid humanity to live longer however I think that the natural order will balance off. I guess the question is what will be around after humanity's breaking point? what will we have destroyed? Whether its a plague or asteroid or giant catastrophe I dont think humanity will be allowed to over populate beyond our planets capabilities. JUst my thoughts.

The question is not if we will be around forever, because we won't, but what state we leave this planet in when we are gone. If its stripped of all its natural resources and polluted beyond repair, then it may be difficult for any type of life to survive.

John

[SteveDola]

Thats the question I posed...i think. Either way I think time heals all wounds. it may take along time to repair but the planet is more complex than humanity understands. As the great Jeff Goldblume once said, "life finds a way" :)

[Bobbofin]

I do not think this planet is damaged beyond repair. There's a series on TV, "Life After People." The earth would renew itself in 1000 years and you wouldn't even know we were here except a few traces here and there.

[paulthomas]

The question is not if we will be around forever, because we won't, but what state we leave this planet in when we are gone. If its stripped of all its natural resources and polluted beyond repair, then it may be difficult for any type of life to survive.

John

I think Carlin said it best. All that will be left once we're gone is styrofoam. He speculated that maybe that's all the planet wanted us for since it couldn't produce it. So once we're gone, it'll work styrofoam into its "matrix" and we'll be a distant memory. ;)