As with many vulnerable fish species, the demand for tuna is increasing non-stop, 5 out of 8 tuna fish are now included in the Red List as an endangered species. They are considered to be near extinction unless something is done immediately. These 5 endangered species are the Southern Bluefin, Atlantic Bluefin, Yellowfin, Bigeye, and Albacore.

This was the report that was released last week, July 13 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature or IUCN. They timed their report with the recently held meeting of 5 of the world’s regional fisheries organizations and government agencies in the hopes of bringing the plight of tuna fish into the spotlight.

In spite of a decline in over fishing trends in a 2010 report from the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, the tuna endangered species, especially the Pacific Bluefin are among the 23% still declining in population. According to Bob Fletcher of the Sportfishing Association of California, only young Bluefin tuna fish can be found on the West Coast.

The tuna is a sportsman’s target, but it is even more popular as food especially among Asians and lovers of Asian cuisine. The problem therefore is not that easy to solve. As a staple in many Asians homes, the canned tuna is used as a cheap main course for a meal while the more affluent are willing to pay whatever it takes to have their tuna dishes. In 2010 a Bluefin tuna catch which weighed over 230 kilos was sold for US$175,000. Just this January 2011, another Bluefin tuna was sold for double the 2010 price in an auction in Japan.

The climate changes have also been a factor to consider as well as the economic implications of the tuna industry. Also, in spite of an international agreement over the maximum tonnes of tuna fish that can be caught in a year, countries are arguing about under-reporting and over-fishing.

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