Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Photo Credit: FishWatch)
A non-profit organization created in Texas, United States, intends to develop a project aimed as a long-term solution to the Atlantic bluefin tuna population issue.
As part of this project, called Tuna Stock Rejuvenation Project (TSRP), this NGO proposes to harvest bluefin tuna fry from the Gulf of Mexico, and grow them in an on-shore aquaculture aquarium facility.
After that process, half of the juveniles will be released with a percentage tagged and with an RFID microchip. And they will carry out DNA tests on the juveniles prior to release to gage the health of the wild stock’s genetic diversity.
“We believe rather than banning, boycotting, or other means to rid of fishing for tuna, there should be something in place that creates a REAL proactive solution to the problem, and provide a long-term solution to the population problem. That is what we have created,” pointed out Ashley Woods in an e-mail sent to FIS.
The NGO’s main goal is to create a genetically diverse school of Atlantic bluefin tuna that are internationally protected, so they can continue to populate the Atlantic Ocean.
“ICCAT [International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas] and Japan, along with other countries, can impose regulations to prevent the tagged and chipped fish from being sold on the market, making them virtually worthless for profit,” Woods added.
According to researchers in this initiative, during this past decade, there has been a lot of debate for the Atlantic bluefin tuna on a global scale but “it is not working.”
Although TSR Project recognises efforst have been made, it believes 'saving' this resource is a difficult task to accomplish and poses some of the issues that need addressing, such as:
- Fishermen and restaurateur rely on the income to provide for their families;
- Consumers enjoy the taste, and some do not want to give it up;
- Conservationists want to protect the tuna population to stabilize the ocean's ecosystem;
- Environmentalists want a protected environment during this process.
Aware of the global effort and knowledge on all the issue aspects necessary to save the bluefin tuna, the new project supporters highlight the micro-chip system they propose will benefit all the involved groups, not only the bluefin tuna, but all the other species that are endangered as well.