UN Conservation Body Overwhelmingly Rejects Trading Ban of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

DOHA, Qatar, March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CITES, the UN governed international body of nations in charge of conserving plant and animal species, today rejected Monaco's proposal to ban all international trade of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. The vote was conclusive, 20 nations voted for the motion, while 68 rejected. Conservation measures of the species will hence remain in the hands of ICCAT, the regional fisheries management organization that to date has been responsible for the species.

Atlantis Group is the single largest importer of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna into Japan. The companies operations in Croatia are the largest Bluefin Tuna farm in the Mediterranean area. The company also has operations in Norway, France, Iceland and Australia.

The company has on the ICCAT front pushed for measures intended for sustainable utilization of the species and this week company representatives were present in Doha to promote the company's stand that the control of the fishing stocks should remain in the hands of regional fisheries management organizations. 

Oli Valur Steindorsson, Atlantis Group CEO: "Historical evidence proves that those with the long term interest in fisheries resources are those most likely to preserve it. Now ICCAT must secure that the trust invested in it by the 68 nations is rewarded. We have pushed for sustainable utilization on the past two ICCAT meetings and will move on in the same manner; doing our best to secure that sustainable practices prevail in regards to the Atlantic Bluefin."

The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna would have been the first commercial fishing stock to be listed on CITES Appendix I, immediately banning all international trade of all products stemming from the species.

SOURCE Atlantis Group