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Dealing with Mediterranean bluefin tuna: A study in international environmental management

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  • Heffernan, Joseph Paul

Abstract

Bluefin tuna management is a high profile conservation issue, generating significant public interest. The species is in decline due to overfishing, with the Mediterranean population of particular concern. Japanese demand for bluefin tuna is driving overexploitation and there are no indications that this will diminish in the foreseeable future. The system of allocating catch quotas to fishing parties under the International Convention on Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) has been ineffective in the past. This paper argues that other avenues of international law, including via the World Trade Organisation, are unable to provide suitable alternative remedies. However, the interaction and political leveraging effect of these multilateral instruments has now established an enabling environment for an effective management regime, with a revitalised ICCAT now universally recognised as the most appropriate forum to address the threats to bluefin tuna. It is advised that ICCAT parties continue to work collaboratively, as has begun in recent years. The body should seek to maintain not only a scientifically derived sustainable fishing quota but also to address high levels of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which threaten to undermine progress in restricting quota allocations. This could be supported by inclusion of a formal dispute resolution mechanism with the Convention or by developing linkages to related UNCLOS articles. However, ultimately, this complex issue is probably best dealt within the international body most well positioned to convene a consensus amongst stakeholders, namely ICCAT.

Suggested Citation

  • Heffernan, Joseph Paul, 2014. "Dealing with Mediterranean bluefin tuna: A study in international environmental management," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(PA), pages 81-88.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:marpol:v:50:y:2014:i:pa:p:81-88
    DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2014.05.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sumaila, Ussif Rashid & Huang, Ling, 2012. "Managing Bluefin Tuna in the Mediterranean Sea," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 502-511.
    2. Waniss A. Otman & Erling Karlberg, 2007. "The Libyan Economy," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-540-46463-1, December.
    3. Michael T. Carroll & James L. Anderson & Josué Martínez-Garmendia, 2001. "Pricing U.S. North Atlantic bluefin tuna and implications for management," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 17(2), pages 243-254.
    4. Antonius Gagern & Jeroen van den Bergh & Ussif Rashid Sumaila, 2013. "Trade-Based Estimation of Bluefin Tuna Catches in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, 2005–2011," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(7), pages 1-12, July.
    5. Anthony Cox, 2009. "Quota Allocation in International Fisheries," OECD Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Papers 22, OECD Publishing.
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