This March 5, 2007 file photo shows workers harvesting bluefin tuna from Maricultura's tuna pens near Ensenada, Mexico.Chris Park/The Associated Press
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Canada appears set to ask for an increase in the amount of lucrative bluefin tuna that can be caught in the western Atlantic even as the federal environment department is assessing whether the fish should be declared an endangered species.
Canadian fishing officials will join their counterparts at the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) which will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from Nov. 18 to 25.
At the same meeting last year, Canada and Japan were overruled when they argued that the quota for the western Atlantic bluefin should be raised from 1,750 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes. Japanese sushi aficionados consider bluefin a delicacy and it can retail for upwards of $1,000 a pound, which makes it a valuable catch for East Coast fishermen.
But the bluefin population on the East Coast has been depleted to about 36 per cent of 1970s levels as a result of overfishing. And, in 2011, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada recommended that it be listed as endangered. That listing is still being considered by Gail Shea, the federal Fisheries Minister, whose staff will represent Canada at the ICCAT meeting.
"I have concerns," said Paul Bentzen, a professor of marine biology at Dalhousie University who was one of the members of the committee that said bluefin tuna should be declared endangered.
"Under the current fishing regime, if the quota isn't increased, maybe they will be all right and they will stabilize or continue to go up," said Dr. Bentzen. "But, to ask for an increase at this time seems, I guess, rather reckless for Canada and certainly inconsistent with the spirit of the fact that this independent group of scientists…has argued that they are at some degree of risk."
There are two theories about stabilizing the bluefin population.
One says more adult fish mean more baby fish. Following that logic, it makes sense to limit the quotas because a larger population of adults will lead to a larger overall population.
The other says current environmental conditions are such that, once you reach a certain plateau in the number of adults, you won't see an increase in the number of young. If that is true, it would mean an increase in the quota would make no difference to the total number of fish. And that has been Canada's position.
"In our conversations with other countries that are members of ICCAT, we hear from them quite clearly that there is a sense that Canada wants to go for an increase in the quota again this year," said Amanda Nickson, director of the Pew Environmental Group's global tuna conservation program.
"We have asked and asked and asked Canada what their position is on this leading into ICCAT," said Ms. Nickson. "And they have declined to answer every time."
Melanie Carkner, a spokeswoman for the Fisheries department, did not answer the question of whether Canada would be asking for an increase in the quota.
"Canada has one of the best managed tuna fisheries in the world – one that is based on scientific advice, effective management, and strict enforcement," Ms. Carkner said in an e-mail. "As a result of our efforts, the western Atlantic bluefin tuna stock, the stock fished in Canada, is showing encouraging signs of rebuilding. Canada has and will continue to advocate sustainable, science-based management decisions for Atlantic Bluefin tuna."
As for the assessment of bluefin as an endangered species, she said, the determination will be made based upon consultations with fishermen and other affected groups, taking into account economic and social effects.
Susanna Fuller, the marine conservation co-ordinator for the Ecology Action Centre, a Halifax-based environmental advocacy group, said any new move by Canada to increase the quota on bluefin will likely be shot down by the other members of ICCAT but the negotiations will use up valuable time that should be spent dealing with other matters affecting the fish.
Until a new stock assessment by ICCAT and the assessment of bluefin under the Species At Risk Act have been completed in 2015, it only makes sense to be precautionary and maintain the current quota as recommended by scientists, said Ms. Fuller.
"It's not a good precedent to set to ask for more quota for a species that you are currently putting through your species-at-risk listing," she said. "It sends a very bad message to Canadians and for the fishing industry that essentially any species-at-risk process should be disregarded and fisheries management is going to do what it wants anyway."
Gloria Galloway is a parliamentary reporter in Ottawa.