Threat of pole-and-line tuna shortage tackled
By Lewis Smith
4 April 2012 An organisation has been set up to ensure the growing demand for tuna caught by pole and line can be met without damaging fish numbers. Pole and line caught tuna is increasingly in demand by consumers – chiefly in the UK, Northern Europe Australasia, Japan and North America – because of rising awareness of overfishing and damaging fishing techniques. But many fisheries which use the pole and line technique are operated by small communities which are unaware of the demand for their produce. The International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) has now been set up to ensure the small fishery communities are put in touch with the buyers looking for pole and line supplies. Moreover, the charity fears that unless such fisheries are identified and given the assistance they need the demand for pole and line caught tuna will outstrip supply and encourage overfishing. John Burton, one of the trustees, said: “We believe pole and line is the most responsible and sustainable form of fishing for tuna. “There is considerable demand for pole and line tuna in the UK and around the world. There currently isn’t enough of it around to meet the demand.” Many small communities around the world, however, catch tuna using the pole and line technique but do not sell it as such. Were they to sell it as ‘pole and line caught’ they would benefit from a market premium that would increase their income by about 10 per cent, said Mr Burton. “That’s going to be the thrust of the Foundation – to bring that fish to market to meet demand and to do it to the benefit of the deprived fishing communities,” he said. […]
