The bluefin tuna is in trouble
The bluefin tuna, one of the world’s most remarkable ocean creatures, is in trouble and needs your help. Overfishing is driving this mighty warm-blooded fish toward the brink of extinction, and yet many sushi restaurants continue to serve it.
The Bluefin Brigade was founded by the Center for Biological Diversity on November 30, 2010, to reduce consumer demand for imperiled bluefin tuna — and now, more than 20,000 people and a growing list of restaurants have joined The Bluefin Brigade.
Too often viewed only as sushi, the bluefin tuna is an extraordinary specimen of ocean wildlife, growing up to 10 feet long and sometimes weighing as much as 1,200 pounds. Unlike almost all fish, bluefin tuna are warm-blooded and able to regulate their body temperature, which helps during their epic 60-day journeys across the Atlantic. Bluefin tuna are top ocean predators and sometimes hunt cooperatively, much like wolves. With streamlined bodies and retractable fins, bluefin can bolt through the water at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour and are capable of crossing oceans in the course of only a few weeks.
Unfortunately, due to its popularity as sushi, its high commercial value and its ability to cross international boundaries, the bluefin tuna is being severely overfished and is at risk of extinction.
Since 1970, Atlantic bluefin tuna have declined by more than 80 percent due to overfishing. In the eastern Atlantic, the majority of the decline has occurred in the past ten years as they’ve been caught, without regulatory oversight, for fish farming. In the western Atlantic, halfway through a 20-year government “rebuilding program” for the severely depleted population, there are nearly 10 percent fewer fish than at the beginning of the program.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists two species of bluefin, the Atlantic and the southern, as endangered or critically endangered on its “Red List” of imperiled species. The Pacific bluefin tuna is not yet listed, but overfishing is now occurring, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Bluefin Boycott: Frequently Asked Questions
VIDEOS: BLUEFIN Boycott TUNA TOUR, SAN FRANCISCO
Catherine introduces the Bluefin Brigade
Chef Thomas Weibell Won’t Serve Bluefin
Sushi Toni Signs the Pledge Not to Serve Bluefin
Take the Pledge: Join the Bluefin Boycott
Source
Back in 1988 when I had a boat out of Newburyport, Mass, we sailed over to Cape Cod. I had a camcorder, and mostly tried to get video of Whales surfacing, and sometimes coming up right along side my boat, looking directly at the camera
One day we spotted a tuna seining operation. They had spotter planes to follow the school of Bluefin from the air, and two boats. One was the same size as my 32 foot boat, and the other was quite a ship, at least 100 feet long, maybe bigger.
They had a net between the two vessels, and when the Bluefin swam into it, the smaller boat circled around to capture them. Then they began hauling the net up with around 200 Bluefin trapped in the net. These are big fish, and 1000 lbs is not unusual. Sometimes they get as big as 2000 lbs
All of the fish try to escape. It is a mass frenzy, and they beat each other to death, trying to get out. The water turns to blood. I saw this, and still have it on videotape. Some Bluefin manage to escape, but they have small boats ready for this, and they shoot them
In a close-up I caught on video, there is one Bluefin struggling to get out of the net, as they raise the net, and the whole school out of the water. She, (I got the feeling it was a female), looked directing into the camera, and it was like she was thinking, “Watch me die, you monster!”
I made a copy of the video, and gave that to GreenPeace, who did nothing with it.
Thank You James,
I sadly can imagine this bad moment, especialy when “She” watched the camera:(
I noticed (maybe i’m wrong) that Organizations prefer to use its own videos,
I don’t know exactely why, maybe they could say ” WE have done this “
This is why you should boycott Bluefin Tuna :groovy:
Merci Mon Ami Phil!
Boycott du thon! 😥