The Australian Fisheries Management Authority's managing director, Richard McLoughlin, claims Japan has been exceeding its quota of southern bluefin tuna for the last 20 years and not just by a few fish. In an article in today's Sydney Morning Herald entiled 'Revealed: how Japan caught and hid $2b worth of rare tuna' he claims they have been catching 3 times their quota.*
But last time I read-up on the issue, it was apparent Japan never agreed to operate within the quote that it had been allocated. This is what I wrote at this blog on 1st June last year:
"I was concerned to learn that the Southern bluefin tuna fishery is shared with Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Korea and New Zealand. The total global catch peaked in 1961 at 81,605 tonnes and was then in general decline for three decades. Since 1990 the total catch has ranged from between 13,231 tonnes (1994) to 19,588 tonnes (1999). Stock assessments suggest that the parental biomass is low but stable and unlikely to recover to target levels unless all countries agree to abide by national allocations as determined by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna. While Australia apparently operates within its allocation, Japan has not agreed to operate within its allocation, and Indonesia does not recognise the Commission."
The Sydney Morning Herald article does not appear to have been properly research and it doesn't look like the Japanese were given an opportunity to tell their side of the story? Furthermore, is it appropriate for Mr McLoughlin to describe the Japanese action as 'fraud' if they never agreed to a quota?
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*According to the Sydney Morning Herald article: Mr McLoughlin was speaking at an ANU seminar in a speech recorded and posted on the internet and the official findings of an inquiry into the issue were presented at an international meeting in Canberra in July, but kept confidential. I've had a quick look for the speech on the internet but couldn't find it. If you can, please post the url as a comment or send me an email jennifermarohasy@jennifermarohasy.com.
Hi Danielle,
I think you will have a problem getting hold of a copy of the speech now, it was withdrawn because the minister made his comments under the Chatham House Rule.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatham_House_Rule
I am wondering if anyone has been able to get their hands on Mr McLoughlin's speech he made at an ANU seminar which was posted on the internet and then retracted. I work for a newspaper and am trying to write a story on this subject. If someone could email it to me or post the link on this website I will be eternaly grateful!
'In the 2004-05 fishing season, Japanese boats exceeded their quota of 6,065 tons by at least 1,500 tons, agency officials said.' - Asahi Shimbun quote posted by David, August 22nd 2006
'One thing I still am yet to see evidence of is the allegation that it was Japan's fishers who exceeded their quotas' - David, 24th August 2006
'I really do not see the signal' - Admiral Horatio Nelson, deliberately holding the telescope to his blind eye at the Battle of Copenhagen, 2nd April 1801.
:o)
:o)
:o)
Here's Anderton's press release:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=26866
I wrote to Jim recently commending his work as Ministry of Fisheries. He's been doing a good job as far as I have been able to see.
Greenpeace in the action again:
"French fishermen block Greenpeace boat"
http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3774314a7693,00.html
http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3774221a11,00.html
New Zealand's media has finally caught up.
"We view over-catch by any country as a very serious matter," Mr Anderton said yesterday. "As a matter of principle, New Zealand has always believed that if, in international arrangements, you over-catch your entitlement, you should pay it back."
I agree with Anderton - at least that the effect of the overfishing should be considered by the Scientific Committee and their advice heeded. Unfortunately it seems that politicians at the CCSBT are just as unlikely to listen to scientific advice as are politicians at the IWC.
"Mr Anderton said the commission was reviewing anomalies in Australia's tuna farming operations and in Japan's market data. Findings will be analysed by a scientific committee, due to meet in October, which will then pass on its advice to the commission."
Excellent 🙂 Hopefully the politicians listen.
One thing I still am yet to see evidence of is the allegation that it was Japan's fishers who exceeded their quotas. Of course, they have acknowledged the problem on their side, but does that account for all the fish on the market? Everyone sells the fish to Tsukiji, not just the Japanese fishers.
'Japanese boats exceeded their quota of 6,065 tons by AT LEAST (my capitals) 1,500 tons' -
$22 per kilo*
1000 kilos to the metric ton(tonne)= $22,000
'at least' 1,500 metric tons = $33,000,000
20 years @ $33,00,000 per year= $660,000,000
Those are ballpark figures from details on the web but Tsukiji’s Tuna Auction keeps accurate records of prices and the Japanese Fisheries Ministry keeps less accurate records of quotas and how much they have been exceeded by........so why the delay in releasing those figures?
The Japanese Fisheries Ministry need to spin the story through the 'sustainable development', 'picking on Japan', 'there are worse culprits than us' and 'we have learnt from past mistakes and are now taking steps to rectify the situation' filters and all that stuff takes time to research.
The blame game should go to extra time.
'Since 1997, the CCSBT has failed to reach
agreement on the global TAC for its members...............Japan, the final destination for 99% of SBT, has not previously agreed to be limited to its national allocation of 6065 tonnes..............Member governments of the SBT commission agreed in October 2003 that the way to bring major players to the table was to INCREASE (my capitals) the TAC to 14,030 tonnes/year.
- INFOFISH
Fishing Technology Digest for Asia-Pacific
Issue No. 48 • Kuala Lumpur • Oct - Dec 2004
'Seems that they are open about it' -
Brazen is the correct word, not 'open'. :o)
* - In actuality the tuna price per kilo, depending on the quality can be substantially more. The record for a single tuna is 100,000 yen per kilogram, approx.$840 per kg.