MONTEREY The most valuable fish in the world are being pulled back from the brink of extinction by international cooperation.
At a June meeting, scientists discovered that the Pacific bluefin tuna population increased 1,000% between 2014 and 2022. This milestone was not anticipated to be reached until 2034.
According to Matt Beaudin, executive chef at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, this is one of the most significant events in the history of sustainable seafood.
Seafood Watch at the aquarium responded by changing the color of some bluefin taken off the coasts of Mexico and California from red (avoid) to yellow (excellent alternative). A yellow rating indicates that while fishing has some adverse effects on the ecosystem, it is not completely unsustainable. In the 25-year history of the program, this is the first time Seafood Watch has revised the fish’s status.
Ten years ago, such a development seemed unthinkable.
Pacific bluefin tuna populations were at an all-time low in 2014. Their numbers have dropped to 2–5% of what they would be in the absence of fishing, according to a report by an international scientific group. Furthermore, 90% of bluefin tuna were caught by fishermen before they reached adulthood, putting the small population at risk of not laying enough eggs to maintain its current, extremely low levels.
In order to give the tuna a chance to recover, countries in the Pacific therefore lowered their fishing quotas.
According to Corbett Nash, outreach manager at Seafood Watch, “I’m really optimistic about what we can do when we work together to solve a problem that we mutually share.”
Even though many marine animals have been overfished, bluefin tuna are particularly at risk since they are some of the most valuable seafood in the world. A 489-pound bluefin brought $1.76 million at a fish market in Tokyo in 2013. That’s about $3,600 for each pound.
Nash claims that he has never experienced it. However, I know from those who have that nothing compares to that.
The protection of bluefin tuna has been strongly supported by the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Nearly 200 well-known chefs signed a vow in 2017 to cease serving Pacific bluefin tuna until nations started fishing it more sustainably.
According to Beaudin, sometimes you have to apply the emergency brake to get people to pay attention in order to leave an impression. The dramatic effect of not eating was exactly what we wanted.
He asserts that scientific advice is insufficient on its own. Pacific bluefin tuna would go extinct if people continued purchasing it. The commitment served as a means of drawing attention to the fact that tuna were being overfished.
According to NOAA public affairs officer Nick Rahaim, fishing fewer bluefin tuna has been the most significant factor in the fish’s recovery. Between 2014 and 2015, the United States and Mexico reduced their catch quota by about 40%, according to resolutions from the IATTC, the body that oversees tuna fishing off the coast of the Americas. Almost majority of the bluefin caught in the area is fished in those nations.
Pacific bluefin tuna are remain fewer than a quarter of their historical abundance, despite a rapid increase in numbers. Beaudin says it’s finally possible to recover. But if we’re not careful, we can still go backward.
The Pacific Ocean is home to Pacific bluefin tuna, a distinct species from Atlantic and southern bluefin. Throughout their lives, they cover vast distances; tagging studies have shown that they can swim from California to Japan in less than two months.
Cooperation from nations throughout the Pacific has been necessary to protect them. These countries get together once a year to talk about conservation and bluefin fishing. Nash hopes they will use the upcoming meeting in July to complete a long-term sustainable fishing plan.
According to Nash, the yellow rating suggests to enjoy it but realize that it’s not where we should be. Before the species recovers, more discussions, more labor, and a longer-term management strategy are still required.
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