All Blog Posts (76)

US Wants More Protection For Bluefin; CITES or Lower Quotas

Here is the news release as published on the US Fish & Wildlife Services site. Bottom line the US supports stronger protective measures for bluefin, whether it comes in the form of a CITES listing or lower quotas beyond what ICCAT planned in their November meeting.

Date: March 3, 2010
Contact: Hugh Vickery (202) 208-6416
Tamara Ward, FWS (703) 358-2512
Connie Barclay, NOAA Fisheries (301) 713-2370

Strickland Announces… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on March 3, 2010 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Tomorrow USA Announces CITES Position

From Washington;
"Please join us for a congressional briefing tomorrow morning regarding the U.S. position on a proposal to list Atlantic bluefin tuna under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
When: Wednesday, March 3 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: U.S. Capitol Building, Room HC-6
Hosted by: U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on March 2, 2010 at 5:57pm — No Comments

E.U. Proposes Bluefin Tuna Fishing Ban

The European Union is proposing banning the commercial fishing of Atlantic bluefin tuna to protect the fish from… Continue

Added by Reynard Loki on March 1, 2010 at 7:43pm — No Comments

IGFA President Calls for Bluefin Protection / CITES

The International Game Fish Association's President Rob Kramer calling for support to protect the bluefin tuna under a CITES listing as published in the Miami Herald. It's great to see the IGFA take a stand here as all recreational fishermen should take notice that a CITES listing does not effect the sport sector.

… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on February 27, 2010 at 11:00pm — 8 Comments

Beyond CITES- Stopping Purse Seining in the Bahamas

This has been an exciting week for those watching CITES developments. Japan's intention to take a reservation is big news that deserves a separate post.

But there's other news too. Word is that the Bahamas is considering issuing permits for purse seine vessels to target yellowfin. So what's the big deal?

Well if you paid attention in bluefin school, you'd know that giants returning from spawning in the Gulf of Mexico pass through Bahamain waters each spring. A couple sets in t… Continue

Added by Thunnus Thynnus on February 20, 2010 at 11:07am — 3 Comments

European Parliament Votes To Protect Bluefin Tuna

Yesterday the European Parliament voted in favor of protecting the bluefin tuna by supporting a trade ban. However the vote comes with stipulations as outlined below. This is from the EU Parliament site:
"Parliament voiced its support on Wednesday for a ban on the trade in endangered animals, such as bluefin tuna and polar bears, and products d… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on February 10, 2010 at 9:14pm — No Comments

How Old Was That 1200lb Giant I Caught?

At this weekend's tuna seminar produced by Canyon Runner, I met several captains who had boated giant bluefin over 1000lbs this Fall off Chatham, Mass. One especially nice captain asked me how old my 1200lb giant was? His fish dressed out at 970lbs. Thanks to Shana over at Tag A Giant, here is a table that estimates the age of bluefin tuna during their life cycle. So that 1200lber was probab… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on February 1, 2010 at 1:31pm — No Comments

Official Announcement; Tagging added to Bluefin Tuna Catch & Release Program 2010

I am extremely excited to formally announce that SaveTheBluefin will add tagging to the 2010 Catch & Release Program. Today I manned the first exhibit at Canyon Runner's tuna seminar in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Here's a look at the first SaveTheBluefin booth. Get a good look because based on today's reaction it won't be the last.

… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on January 30, 2010 at 10:30pm — No Comments

In Atlantic City for Canyon Runner Tuna Seminar, big announcement tomorrow

Stay tuned for an official announcement from SaveTheBluefin tommorrow. Continue

Added by John LoGioco on January 29, 2010 at 10:38pm — No Comments

Small Tuna

Why is it that recreational Tuna fishermen target small Tuna and load up with more than enough that they could possibly eat ?? Why not just catch and release ? Continue

Added by Mark Johnson on January 28, 2010 at 8:37am — 3 Comments

Exhibiting At Canyon Runner's Exclusive Tuna Seminar

We are proud to announce that Save The Bluefin will be exhibiting at Canyon Runner's Tuna and Marlin Seminar Series in Atlantic City on January 30th, 2010.

This is a premiere… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on January 21, 2010 at 2:13pm — No Comments

Video - Killer Whale Hunts and Kills Great White Shark

Although this does not pertain to bluefin tuna specifically, I just had to post this video from National Geographic on killer whales that have learned how to hunt great whites by first stunning them with a vicious head butt, then holding them upside down until they suffocate. Continue

Added by John LoGioco on January 15, 2010 at 1:39pm — No Comments

Will Japan Ram Ships Protecting Bluefin? Video

Although this scene took place deep in the Southern Antarctic, the situation surrounding the bluefin tuna is heating up just the same. This can very easily be an illegal tuna seiner ramming a Greenpeace or enforcement ship in the Med. Are we smart enough to avoid this silliness on our oceans? I hope so. The Japanese should not be killing whales and just the same, any nation should not kill bluefin tuna illegally, at any time for any reason. Continue

Added by John LoGioco on January 10, 2010 at 11:19am — No Comments

WWF Canvases China To Not Follow Japan On Bluefin Consumption

WWF has canvased the restaurant and chef community in China asking them to not participate in the bidding process for bluefin tuna in 2010. This is most welcome, as the Atlantic biomass cannot afford another superpower nation adopting the bluefin as a delicacy. Here is the full post and link to the official letter. Continue

Added by John LoGioco on December 30, 2009 at 8:04pm — No Comments

The Monaco Proposal

In March, nations will vote on Monaco's proposal for an Atlantic bluefin tuna trade ban The Atlantic bluefin tuna (thunnus thynnus) has seen better days, when it wasn't overfished. But those days are long gone. It is on the verge of a population collapse as man's appetite for the fish has skyrocketed around the world, driven in large part by the international sushi industry. According to both the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization and the International Commission for th… Continue

Added by Reynard Loki on December 28, 2009 at 2:10pm — 1 Comment

Can Catch Shares Help The Bluefin Tuna Fishermen & Stocks?

Can a catch share structure help or hurt the US bluefin tuna commercial fleet? Can catch shares create a better structure for self-management of the stocks by the fishermen? Here is a look at a conversation still brewing between heads of the US commercial fleet and members of this network on this very issue. As we know, NOAA has a keen eye for catch share programs. However there is considerable debate… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on December 23, 2009 at 2:00pm — 4 Comments

Feed Some Bluefin For Christmas?

Kieran Larkin from Prince Edward Island had the stand up icon Dennis Braid from Braid Products up this year to get in on the bluefin hand feeding bonanza. Here's a video that anyone who likes bluefin tuna will enjoy. Look for a video from Braid this month. Continue

Added by John LoGioco on December 20, 2009 at 8:54am — No Comments

What Does A Bluefin CITES Appendix II Do?

This week the United Nations' Food & Agricultural Organization stated that the data on Atlantic Bluefin tuna does qualify for a CITES (Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix II listing. This is actually a significant event leading up to the next CITES meeting in Qatar in March 2010. Since there are three types… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on December 15, 2009 at 2:30pm — 1 Comment

Fail The Bluefin, Wake A Sleeping Giant

In the last year thousands, if not millions of average people now know that the bluefin tuna is in serious trouble and the managers of this fishery have not taken sufficient measures to avoid a collapse. But then the question becomes why are we doing this to the bluefin tuna? The simple, but yet embarrassing fact is that we are relentlessly killing these fish to freeze and send to foreign nations, mostly Japan, for wealthy people around the world the pleasure of indulging in a delicacy. Are we c… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on November 30, 2009 at 9:30pm — No Comments

ICCAT Plans To Kill 13.5 Tons of Bluefin, Could Be The Last!

ICCAT has failed yet again. After long meetings the new recommendation sets the quota at for the Mediterranean and East Atlantic to 13,500 metric tons, and that is 13,500 too many. The purse seine fishery gets one month to fish (May 15 to June 15 i.e. an 11 month closure), cancellation of the of the 5 weather days and finally establishment next year of a 3 year rebuilding plan with a 60% probability of stock recovery and easily requiring another major quota reduction to somewhere between zero an… Continue

Added by John LoGioco on November 15, 2009 at 6:10pm — 16 Comments