Bluefin tuna quota increase under fire

 A week after Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species delegates shot down a proposed international trade ban of Atlantic bluefin tuna, New Zealand is taking heat from the environmental community for a 27 percent increase in the country's southern bluefin tuna quota.

On Thursday, the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries increased the southern bluefin tuna quota from 420 metric tons to 532 metric tons for the current fishing year, which ends on 30 September, after which the quota will revert to 420 metric tons. The decision came as quotas for numerous species, including rock lobster and blue whiting, were adjusted mid-season.

"New Zealand has been a leading voice on putting in place effective measures to manage southern bluefin tuna and encouraging all nations to take action," said Ministry of Fisheries CEO Wayne McNee.

The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council defended the move. "The minister bases his decision on good science," said Owen Symmans, the council's CEO. "Although there is an increase in our national allowance, there is an overall decrease of 20 percent to the total global catch limit for southern bluefin tuna. We support this decrease."

However, the environmental community condemned the quota increase, arguing that bluefin tuna stocks worldwide are too fragile to withstand increased fishing.

Greenpeace called the quota increase a "death warrant" for southern bluefin tuna. "The government is trying to hide behind the fact that the rest of the world has cut catches by 20 percent. In other words, it's saying other countries can do the hard yards on saving this species, meanwhile it will milk it for all it's worth," said Greenpeace New Zealand oceans campaigner Karli Thomas.

"The government should have acted to put quota on ice rather than increasing the catch limit," recommended Environment and Conservation Organizations spokesperson Barry Weeber.

"Increasing the quota of … southern bluefin tuna is about making money in the short term and the end of this species in the long term," added Forest & Bird Marine Conservation spokesperson Kirstie Knowles.

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