Although the efforts to secure a protective CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) listing for Atlantic bluefin tuna failed this past March in Qatar, the International Game Fish Association showed its appreciation for one congresswoman who encouraged the United States to support the proposal and stand up for conservation.
On April 5, 2010, IGFA President Rob Kramer welcomed Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the Greats Hall of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Fla., thanking her for her commitment to ocean issues.
“The decline of this majestic and signature species cannot be allowed to continue,” Congresswoman Wasserman Shultz said to the assembly, “and I share your deep disappointment that the member nations to CITES missed this important opportunity to protect the bluefin.”
The congresswoman went on to highlight actions that could be addressed domestically to aid bluefin tuna, including the National Marine Fisheries Service taking additional steps to better protect the species’ only known Western Atlantic spawning ground – the Gulf of Mexico. IGFA’s Kramer echoed her sentiments, adding that wasteful longlining practices in the Gulf of Mexico harm more than just bluefin with blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, and sharks – also apex predators in the ocean’s food chain – being threatened by surface longlining as well.
Kramer closed by looking forward, “Despite the bad news that came out of the CITES meeting, we have an opportunity in front of us to protect these valuable game fish and raise the public’s awareness of their importance to the overall health of our ocean ecosystems.”
With support from concerned members of Congress, conservation groups, and international partners, the IGFA looks forward to doing just that.By: Pete Johnson / Johnson Communications
