Euro-chiefs end bluefin tuna fishing season

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th Jun 2010

The European Commission has closed the fishing season for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic due to exhausted quotas.

A statement from the Commission said;

"The closure of the purse seine fishery [involving huge nets] is necessary to protect the fragile stock of bluefin tuna and to ensure its recovery. The Commission has declared a zero tolerance approach towards overfishing and will take all necessary measures to ensure full compliance across the board."

The species is in serious danger of being wiped out, and in March the European Commission proposed a complete fishing ban at CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), but were blocked by a coalition of countries led by Japan.

The Commission's decision means that no more bluefin tuna can be fished in these waters until the next fishing season, and was welcomed by local MEP Graham Watson who said;

"Environmentalist groups and Lib Dem MEPs have frequently pointed out that we are in danger of wiping out bluefin tuna stocks.

"I was extremely disappointed when CITES members failed to include blufin Tuna on the endangered list. But at least Europe has taken this action to protect a valuable and threatened species.

"I will continue to campaign for stricter controls for this species and any others that future generations are in danger of losing."