Moratorium on Bluefin Tuna

[Seacidal]

U.S. Calls for ABFT Moratorium

WILLIAM T. Hogarth, director of NOAA’s Fisheries Service and the head of the US Delegation to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), has welcomed calls for an international moratorium on bluefin tuna fishing in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.

Mr Hogarth issued a statement about Wednesday's US Senate resolution urging the US delegation to advocate the ban.

The House of Representatives passed a similar resolution on Tuesday urging ICCAT to adopt stronger conservation measures.

“As the US Commissioner to ICCAT, I welcome these strong resolutions. The United States is committed to its leadership position on bluefin conservation but we cannot do it alone. We need international cooperation in the form of a moratorium to save this truly magnificent fish," Mr Hogarth said.

“Congress has again shown its commitment to promote effective fisheries management on a global scale as reflected in the new international provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorisation Act of 2006. I thank Congress for its continued support as we lead the effort to stop overfishing of bluefin tuna.”