HSI is disappointed the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) has failed to do enough to rescue both the tuna and the albatross endangered by its fishery at a meeting in Korea held 20-23 October 2009.

Despite Australian scientists recommending a zero catch allocation was necessary to give SBT a decent chance of recovery, the Commission which comprises Australia, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, only agreed to reduce the global catch by 20%. The spawning biomass of southern bluefin tuna is estimated to be as low as 3-8% of pre-exploitation levels and this level of exploitation is likely to see it remain that way. The Commission also neglected to agree to any new measures that would see a reduction in the estimated 10,700 annual death toll of seabirds its longline fisheries are responsible for.

Seabird expert Nigel Brothers represented HSI at the meeting and gave a statement calling for new mandatory measures to prevent albatross, shark and turtle bycatch and for a suspension in SBT fishing.

HSI media release on 2009 CCSBT outcomes – Tuna and albatross catches still too high, October 2009. Click here.

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