Looming bluefin tuna trade ban
The bluefin
tuna is disappearing, and to save it, Monaco is spearheading a proposal to
impose a trade ban on those caught in the Atlantic. This comes as bad news for
sushi-lovers, who could be seeing a Japanese delicacy stricken from the
menu.
"Japan
will inevitably have to take a reservation", vice fisheries minister
Masahiko Yamada said, with the proposal already expected to be passed in Doha
this week. A reservation would allow Japan to effectively ignore the ban and
continue to trade with other nations that also adopt one.
Japan
consumes 450,000 tons of tuna every year, far exceeding any other nation. It
imports 78% of the world’s 24,900 ton bluefin quota, treasuring it not only as
a cultural dish, but also a form of national identity. At least, that’s what
Tsukiji’s demonstrating auctioneers say.
According
to scientists, Bluefin populations have fallen 85% in the last three decades.
If the current pace of fishing continues, the bluefin tuna will
vanish by 2050. Environmentalists also argue that fishing quotas are
ineffective, as they are often exceeded.
The price
of tuna has jumped to 6,500 yen per kilogram, up from 4,000 yen in November. A sudden
surge in prices is not expected, as Japan still holds 20,000 tons of frozen
tuna in reserve. There is no doubt, though, that prices will eventually climb.
Looking
ahead, what happens in Doha will go beyond the sushi market. Employment levels
will take another hit, while capital trade flows will shift from Japan. No
doubt, the future will also see a jump in aquaculture, with new forms of fish
farms emerging.