The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the international body charged with the conservation and management of tuna and associated species in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, will meet in San Diego this week to consider conservation measures for vulnerable tuna populations.
IATTC is a 6-nation Commission which will act to protect declining tuna stocks, or once again demonstrate their impotence to do so, remains to be seen. It is said that the fate of Pacific tuna stocks hangs in the balance. Tuna populations are showing signs of trouble in the eastern tropical Pacific. As per the present status big eye tuna populations are falling to low levels, the average size of captured yellowfin tuna is in decline and high levels of very small juvenile tuna are being caught accidentally.
The Commission’s own scientific staff have warned repeatedly about the dwindling population of tuna and urged nations to collectively adopt measures that include establishment of closure periods for overall stock recoveries. The Commission has failed to agree on a single measure to address overfishing.
Experts said that under present priorities and negotiating positions of member states, the consensus required to adopt unanimous binding resolutions is proving impossible in the IATTC. It is told that some nations have opted for unilateral measures but these tend to be weak and are ineffective unless other nations are adopting complementary measures and undermine the credibility and effectiveness of the IATTC that for more than 50 years has managed Eastern Pacific tuna stocks.
Meghan Jeans, Ocean Conservancy’s Pacific fish conservation manager, explained that fish are a public resource and as global citizens, we share in both the benefit and the burden of protecting them. Bill Fox, PhD, World Wildlife Fund vice president of fisheries, informed that the IATTC historically conserved tuna and other marine life but that took dedication, diligence and collaboration on the part of its members, which has been missing in recent years.
