A Simon Fraser University study released July 7 is urging fisheries management organizations to put a moratorium on fishing some tuna species so they can recover and avoid extinction.
Biologists Nick Dulvy, Lucy Harrison and Maria Jose Juan Jorda’s study is being published in Science magazine.
It puts five of eight species of tuna globally on the threatened or near-threatened list.
Southern bluefish tuna are the most threatened and Atlantic bluefin tuna are next.
Business in Vancouver reported last month that B.C.’s tuna trollers are building a high-end reputation for a fish that only a few years ago could be found in the bargain bin at the local grocery store. (See: “Tuna trade floats on sustainable success” – issue 1130; June 21-27.)
Every June, 110 internationally licensed vessels make the run from the northern border of California to Haida Gwaii in search of the Pacific Coast’s sought-after albacore tuna.
In 2010, B.C. fishermen pulled 14 million pounds of tuna out of the deep-green waters off the coast.
That haul sports an annual wholesale value between $25 million and $30 million, said Lorne Clayton, executive director of Canadian Albacore Tuna, a foundation that promotes B.C.’s fifth largest single species fin-fish fishery.
The amount of tuna that B.C. fishermen catch has increased in recent years as the fishery has marketed albacore as a premium product.
“Fifteen years ago, 90% of our tuna went into a can,” Clayton said. “Now it’s less than 10%, so we’re really focusing on the loin or meat part of the tuna, and it’s a higher value and better use so the fishery benefits more from it.”
Glen Korstrom
Twitter: GlenKorstrom