Mediterranean tuna at risk from 'bloated' fishing fleet: WWF

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

GENEVA (AFP) — The Mediterranean tuna fishing fleet is so large that its capacity is nearly twice the current quotas, and some 200 ships should be scrapped to conserve stocks, environmental group WWF said Wednesday.

"The failure of international fisheries management has allowed a monster to thrive in the Mediterranean," said Sergi Tudela, head of fisheries at WWF Mediterranean.

"Decision-makers must be bold if the bluefin is to be saved from a sorry fate," he warned.

The fishing fleet from the 11 Mediterranean coastal states -- Algeria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey -- has a catch potential of nearly 55,000 tonnes a year, nearly double the internationally agreed quota of 28,500 tonnes, the WWF said.

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