By Ranjan Bhaduri
Qatar, Mar 18, (THAINDIAN NEWS) A ban on the trade of bluefin tuna has sparked a worldwide debate with the Asian countries up in arms against implementing the ban. While the USA and EU are for the ban, countries like Japan are opposing it by all means. The conflict has become clear at the ongoing CITES which is taking place at Qatar. The proposal to impose a ban on the trade of the fish across borders has faced stiff resistance. The Bluefin Tuna trade is prevalent in the Mediterranean and Atlantic sea region.

The proposal needs a two-thirds majority of the member of CITES to be approved. EU is hell bent on supporting the proposal and the new opposition from countries like Portugal and Malta has not changed its stance. While it will get the support of the USA, Japan’s hard opposition is a matter of concern. Japan is the biggest consumer of the fish in the world and the Japanese use this fish in a lot of cuisines. Hirotaka Akamatsu, the Fisheries Minister of Japan has vowed that he will do his level best to resist the ban. It is being said that China will also support Japan in this context.

However, China has not come clear on the issue so far. There are some other countries that have taken a neutral stance over the issue. The environmental groups are supporting the ban totally as they think that the Bluefin tuna is facing extinction due to rampant fishing. They are of the opinion that the fish species needs adequate time to reproduce and grow in numbers to evade extinction.