Saving Bluefin Tuna

Pacific bluefin tuna are in trouble. After decades of overfishing, the population hovers at less than 3 percent of its original size, and the unsustainably high catch of juveniles—the smallest fish—threatens the species' continued existence.

These bluefin are important to the ocean ecosystem, and they support fishing industries on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.

It’s time to put bluefin tuna on the road to recovery. Since managers have failed to end overfishing, we’re calling for a two year moratorium on commercial fishing for this species. Once overfishing has ended, science-based catch limits are in place, and an ocean-wide rebuilding plan has begun, we can end the moratorium. This will help secure a future for Pacific bluefin.

For more information please visit www.pewtrusts.org/tuna

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TRANSCRIPT

Saving Pacific Bluefin Tuna

A Call to Protect its Future

The Pacific bluefin tuna population is just 2.6% of its unfished size and fishing continues without effective catch limits.
More than 90% are caught as juveniles, the youngest fish. These fish never get a chance to reproduce.
Relatively few adult Pacific bluefin remain and new studies suggests those that can reproduce won’t for much longer.

A science-based, ocean-wide recovery plan will save the population.

Pacific bluefin can migrate from Japan to Mexico and back. That’s why management must be improved throughout the Pacific by protecting bluefin where they are born and breed and where they travel to feed.

Since managers have failed to stop overfishing, a twoyear commercial fishing moratorium offers the best chance to change course.

Moratorium lifted when:
-overfishing is ended
- science-based catch limits are in place
- ocean-wide rebuilding plan begins

Nations must act now to secure a future for Pacific bluefin.