Bluefin Tuna Overfishing

Ryan Booth Overfishing Andrew Lowe Conservation Overfishing occurs when a species or type of fish is being caught at rates that are so high, that they can't recover and replenish their population. The Biology 115: Marine Bluefin Tuna population has dropped to about 2.6% of its pre-fishingsize. Nowadays companies and fleets have spotter planes and (Lubchenco, J., & Damanaki, M. 2016, December 4) Atlantic or Northern state-of-the-art ships to hunt down Bluefin tuna. Armed with Bluefin (NBF) and Southern Bluefin (SBF) Tuna are endangered and largely Abstract large nets that capture any fish in its path, this has been the overfished, but Pacific Bluefin (PBF), which is very popular in Japanese and go-to way to fish for Bluefin. Since 1994, TRCC (Tuna American cuisine, is quickly on its way to becoming endangered as well. The Bluefin Tuna is one of the most sought after foods in the world, as well as one of the most Research and Conservation Center) have been tagging and majority of PBF spawn in the Sea of Japan near Okinawa. (Plumer, B. 2013, expensive. Due to its sheer size and weight, it is a delicacy in many countries across the globe. studying these tuna. At their facility, they have four tanks, April 23) Throughout their lifetime they migrate to and from California and More so, restaurants don’t mind on spending top dollar for one of these fish. Their flesh is between 5000 and 84,000 gallons of water, each with their Mexico, where there are large amounts of food. Most fisheries use baited second to none, being used in mainly sushi across the world. These fish are in such high own life support system. (Monterey Bay Aquarium 2017, May long line fishing tactics to catch Bluefin. Fisheries string miles of wire, strung demand, they fisheries are overfishing them with little to no regulations. Over the last 30 or so 17). They hold the tuna for years, growing them up to with I baited hooks, but on top of catching Bluefin, they also catch dolphins years, these fish have become endangered and on the verge of extinction. Overfishing of hundreds of pounds. This tagging provides detailed and turtles. These mistakenly caught animals are considered “bycatch”. Due these huge creatures will not only effect the marine system, but entire businesses and migration and behaviors so the Bluefin can be studied so we to the NBF and SBF being endangered, there are some regulations and rules economies in general. We need to find ways to fish Bluefin while at the same time, giving them can help them thrive again. for fishing them. In the Pacific, there are very little rules and regulations. time to repopulate and become a stable species again. There is no minimum size for what Bluefins can be caught which leaves juveniles at risk. There are also no specifications as to where there can be fishing. Some fisheries are fishing very close to the Sea of Japan where PBF spawn therefore “pushing them into a corner”. If we keep disregarding rules and regulations for fishing these fish, Bluefin Tuna will be extinct very soon.

Bluefin Tuna migration (https://futureoftheocean.wordpress.com)

Pacific Bluefin Tuna (nzpress.net) References

Aflo/Barcroft Images (The Guardian) Boehler, P. (2013, January 7). Japan: World’s Most Expensive Fish Sold for $1.8 Million. Species Retrieved from TIME: Japan: World’s Most Expensive Fish Sold for $1.8 Million There are three types of Tuna which are being overfished, Pacific Bluefin (Thunnus Orientalis), Consumption Lubchenco, J., & Damanaki, M. (2016, December 4). Save the Pacific Bluefin Tuna. Retrieved Northern Bluefin or Atlantic Bluefin (Thunnus thynnus) and Southern Bluefin (Thunnus maccoyii). from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/04/opinion/save-the- Another type of Bluefin is Longtail Tuna (Thunnus tonggol), but they are not at risk of overfishing. pacific-bluefin-tuna.html Japanese cuisine is the largest consumer of Bluefin Tuna in the world. Pacific Bluefin can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) in length and up to 450 kg (1000lbs), Northern Consuming about 80% of the Bluefin caught, most of their cuisine (Atlantic) Bluefin can grow up to 4.6 meters (15 feet) and weigh up to 684 kg (1506lbs). (National Main, D. (2013, January 12). Pacific Bluefin Tuna in Trouble, Scientists Say. Retrieved from includes seafood. (McCurry, J. 2017, April 24) Mainly served raw and Geographic. 2017, May 17). Southern Bluefin can grow to lengths of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) and weigh Live Science: http://www.livescience.com/26215-pacific-bluefin-tuna-in- served as a sushi dish, Bluefin Tuna is one of the most expensive fish in up to 270 kg (570lbs). The 3 species that are endangered or on the verge of endangerment tend to be decline.html the world. The price of Bluefin was at its peak in 2013, where one 489- very large and weigh a considerable amount, they are considered to be “true” Bluefin Tuna. Whereas McCurry, J. (2017, April 24). Japan to exceed bluefin tuna quota amid warnings of pound tuna, which was caught off the coast of Northeastern Japan, sold Longtail Tuna are referred to as “Northern Bluefin” by Australians and New Zealanders due to the commercial extinction. Retrieved from The Guardian: for a mere 155.4 million yen, or $1.76 million. (Boehler, P. 2013, January fact they are found on the North coast of their countries. Longtail tuna are considerably smaller than https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/24/japan-criticised-exceed-bluefin- 7) To break it down into smaller numbers, one bite of this fish would cost the other types of Bluefin, they grow to a length of about 57 inches, just shy of 6 feet, and weigh up tuna-fishing-quota around $179. (The Telegraph. 2013, January 6) Nowadays it is to 36kg (79lbs). Longfin Tuna are more slender than “true” Bluefin and also have shorter pectoral somewhat rare for a fish to break $100,000. The reason this fish is so fins. They also grow slower than, but tend to have a longer lifespan. Pacific Bluefin are caught in the Monterey Bay Aquarium. (2017, May 17). Bluefin Tuna. Retrieved from Monterey Bay expensive is thanks to the fat content within its very red flesh. Pacific Ocean, hence the name while Northern and Southern Bluefin are, for the most-part, caught in Aquarium: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/conservation-and-science/our- priorities/thriving-ocean-wildlife/bluefin-tuna the Atlantic. National Geographic. (2017, May 17). Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. Retrieved from National Geographic: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/bluefin-tuna/

National Geographic. (2017, May 17). Still Waters: The Global Fish Crisis. Retrieved from National Geographic: http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/global-fish- crisis-article/

Plumer, B. (2013, April 23). Overfishing has wiped out 96 percent of Pacific bluefin tuna. Retrieved from VOX: https://www.vox.com/2014/4/23/5637044/overfishing-has- driven-pacific-bluefin-tuna-numbers-down-96-percent

AP Photo/Koji Sasahara (Business Insider) Pacific Bluefin Tuna (Monterey Bay Aquarium) Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (National Geographic) Southern Bluefin Tuna (Stehrgroup.net) The Telegraph. (2013, January 6). Bluefin Tuna Sells For Record-Breaking $1.8 Million. Retrieved from Business Insider: http://www.businessinsider.com/bluefin-tuna-