More on bluefin tuna

I mentioned a couple of days ago that the United States has joined the European Commission in supporting Monaco's proposal to list the Atlantic bluefin tuna on appendix I of CITES. Here's a key excerpt from Jane Lubchenco's¹ statement concerning the decision.

[W]e are sending a clear and definitive statement to the international community that the status quo is not acceptable.

According to Lubchenco's statement, populations of bluefin tuna have declined more than 70% in the last 40 years. Lubchenco holds out the possibility that the United States will withdraw its support for Monaco's resolution if November meetings of the international body managing bluefins adopts measures that would halt the decline, i.e., sustainable quotas for the fishery.

Given that the November meetings will involve the same cast of characters that have allowed bluefins to be overfished already, I would bet that the U.S. will continue its support for petition to list them on appendix I of CITES.