New Report: Atlantic Bluefin Threatened by Supply Chain Corruption

Joshua S. Reichert, managing director of the Pew Environment Group, issued a statement following the release of a new report from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists that exposes how corruption across the supply chain for Atlantic bluefin tuna have contributed to a thriving black market, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to The Pew Charitable Trust.

"The entire bluefin tuna supply chain in the Mediterranean is mismanaged. This new report shows how the black market for Atlantic bluefin tuna continues to threaten the future of one of the most sought after fish in the sea. If left unchecked, this will lead to a collapse of the fishery, with dire consequences not only for the species, but also for many local communities.

"Later this month, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the international body charged with conserving Atlantic bluefin tuna, will hold a crucial meeting in Paris. ICCAT member countries should protect the only known spawning grounds for Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea and suspend the fishery until effective management measures are in place, illegal fishing is under control and the species has begun to recover.