Source: Oceana
February 8, 2010

Madrid - Today in Geneva, bluefin tuna, sharks and corals took one large step closer to winning protection. In an important and noteworthy announcement, the Secretariat of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, recommended the adoption of proposals to list North Atlantic bluefin tuna, various sharks, and red and pink corals to the Appendices of the convention.

Oceana, the international marine conservation organization, welcomes the support by CITES and notes the growing evidence and support to control the international trade of these marine species.

"While there is mounting scientific backing of these proposals, some key players are placing obstacles in the way of these marine species. The European Union, a top exporter of bluefin tuna, shark fins and some corals, are taking months to debate their position on these proposals," notes Xavier Pastor, Executive Director of Oceana Europe. He continues, "And Japan, the main importer and consumer of marine products in the world and a powerful fishing nation, has opposed every single proposal to list marine species on the CITES appendices."

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