EU to push for trade ban on bluefin tuna

Mar 10, 2010, 17:42 GMT

Brussels - European Union diplomats on Wednesday agreed to call for a ban on the international trade in bluefin tuna at a meeting in Doha, the EU's Spanish presidency announced.

They are also to push for more protection of elephants and polar bears at the meeting of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the presidency, which runs lower-level EU ministerial meetings, said.

The EU has long been divided over the question of the trade in bluefin tuna, spectacular fish which are particularly prized in sushi and which can fetch tens of thousands of dollars on the open market.

Fishing states such as France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Malta opposed a ban, while more environmentally-conscious states supported the idea.

Wednesday's decision by ambassadors of EU states in Brussels, which ministers are expected to ratify on Thursday or Friday, backs a compromise proposal from the bloc's executive to call for a ban but to delay its implementation.

The European Commission proposal targets a meeting of the confederation of tuna-fishing industries, ICCAT, in the autumn as the final chance for the industry to come up with a credible way of preserving the highly-endangered species.

EU diplomats said that if ICCAT failed to present a credible plan, a ban could come into place in May 2011.

The 175 members of CITES are to gather in Doha on Saturday and meet until March 25. Decisions by the group are taken by two-thirds majority. The EU has 27 votes, one for each of its member states.