Thankfully, not all hope is lost.
Currently, the Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna (ABFT) has a classification of endangered by the IUCN red list. The ABFT is a similar species to the Pacific Blue Fin Tuna (PBFT) and has a similar historical background but its population numbers have improved recently.
Number of catches of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna from 1914 to 2009 (Source: Cort & Abaunza, 2015)
Similar to the PBFT, the years after 1963 saw a sharp decline in population numbers. In phase 1 (1914-1963), 90,000 tons were caught while in phase 2 (1964-2009) only 11,000 tons were caught. The catch from the first half of the century was 8 times more than the second half of the century, indicating that overfishing had decimated the population. However, there has been a gradual recovery of the population numbers. The contrast between the successful recovery of the ABFT and the failure of management of the PBFT is influenced by two factors.
International Cooperation
There are geopolitical differences in the areas by which these fishes and these differences manifest themselves into different levels of cooperation for fishing management. For the ABFT, they reside in waters that are mostly fished by countries that are a part of the European Union (EU).
The Migration Zones of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Source: IUCN Red List, 2020)
While for the Pacific Blue Fin Tuna, they live in regions that do not have such a strong political union.
The Migration Zones of the Pacific Bluefin Tuna (Source: IUCN Red List, 2020)
The difference in international cooperation would play a key role in determining the success of implementing a regulation that is adhered to by many countries. In the EU, most countries share the same currencies, have flexible trading, and free labor movements. Although Japan is part of ASEAN, it is a political union that is not as cooperative as compared to the member states of the EU. For example, in 2002, the EU banned driftnet fishing, which was detrimental to tuna populations, and all EU members must adhere to this rule. The Japanese government, on the other hand, has not been cooperative in following fishing regulations and has a history of refusing to participate in conventions to set limits on fishing. As fishing is one of the major industries of Japan, limiting them would be a big blow to their economy. Therefore, the higher level of cooperation plays a role in the successful recovery of the stocks of the ABFT while the conflicting interests in the PBFT region have led to complications in the cessation of overexploitation of the commons.
Domestic Management
Another reason for the recovery of the ABFT is the difference in the domestic management of each region. One prominent country that has played a role in the conservation of the ABFT is the US.
United States
According to data from NOAA fisheries, the US mandates that American fishermen use fishing methods that are not damaging to the ocean floor, which ensures that there is minimal habitat destruction for the ABFT. Also, the fishing tools used are selective for hunting the ABFT and ensures that other species of fishes unintentionally caught are released.
As of 2017, a detailed study by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). an international conservation organization for the ABFT found that current fishing levels are sustainable.
Japan
There is a clear difference in management for the PBFT. Japan, the largest consumer of these fishes, has an ineffective internal fishing management system that has only recently revamped their old fishing laws in 2018 to increase penalties for illegal tuna fishing. In 2017, annual fishing quotas were reached just two months before the year-end. On the other hand, the US enforces strict adherence to regulations set by the government.
In all, both domestic management and international cooperation within the regions of the fishes play a role in putting a stop to the Tragedy of the Commons.
Help Save the Bluefin Tuna
The conservation of Bluefin Tuna is multi-tiered and we all have a part to play in each aspect.
1. Government
Push for a reduction in tuna fishing quotas
As Hardin argued, this is the most effective solution in preventing a Tragedy of the Commons. He posits that environmental problems are inevitable unless we have a concentrated effort that unifies people to consume resources sustainably. The case study of the difference in the recovery of the Atlantic bluefin tuna and the continued decline of the Pacific bluefin tuna depends highly on effective governance that enforces sustainable resource consumption.
You may consider signing this petition to place pressure on world leaders to stop this trade.
2. Personal
By reducing your personal consumption of the bluefin tuna, you are helping to:
Drive price down
One of the major driving factors of the BFT is the incredibly high price that it fetches coupled with the huge amount of economic potential gained from just a single catch. These factors are directly driven by us. When we choose not to consume this fish, we are directly driving the demand down which consequently also decreases price and drives more fishermen to consider alternative non-threatened species of fish.
Promote the recovery of tuna stocks
When the demand is low, prices will drop and will discourage fishermen from overexploiting the tuna stocks. Currently, time is needed to permit the recovery of the tuna stocks, and reducing our personal consumption will greatly help in the long-term conservation of this species.
3. Social
Encourage your friends and family to follow suit
One of the most powerful forms of influence comes from those around us. When we encourage our friends to reduce our consumption of this fish, we are directly helping to ensure the survival of this species. Our children and their children after will be able to continue to enjoy this delicacy only if we act now and consume this fish in ways that are sustainable.