U.S. backs trade ban on bluefin tuna

U.S. backs trade ban on bluefin tuna    The United States will continue its support for a proposed ban on all international commercial trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna at the meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Doha on March 13-25.
   'In light of the serious compliance problems that have plagued the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean fishery and the fact that the 2010 quota level adopted by ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) is not as low as we believe is needed, the United States continues to have serious concerns about the long-term viability of either the fish or the fishery,' said Tom Strickland, the Interior Department's assistant secretary for fish and wildlife, in a statement on Wednesday.
   The Atlantic bluefin tuna is highly prized, especially for sashimi, and a single fish can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars. The Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock is threatened by overharvesting, which includes illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
   Strickland will head the U.S. delegation at the 15th Conference of Parties of the 175-nation CITES treaty.