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France bans bluefin tuna trade for 18 months

PARIS, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- France agreed to adopt a global ban on bluefin tuna trade but with a suspended period of 18 months, the Ecology Minister Jean-Louis Borloo said Wednesday at a news conference. In a bid to protect the endangered specie, France dec

PARIS, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- France agreed to adopt a global ban on bluefin tuna trade but with a suspended period of 18 months, the Ecology Minister Jean-Louis Borloo said Wednesday at a news conference.

In a bid to protect the endangered specie, France decided to join the ban, but the fishing committee need time to conduct a scientific study and make a withdrawal plan, so the prohibiting order will come into effect in September 2011, Borloo explained.

However, environmental organization Greenpeace called the government's decision "ridiculous," saying after 18 months' delay, there would be no longer any bluefin tuna to protect.

The protection proposal was initiated by Monaco and was later listed under the United Nations' appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

According to data submitted by Monaco, the number of bluefin tuna in Mediterranean decreased by 74.2 percent from 1957 to 2007.

Due to disputes from French, Greek and Maltese fisheries commissions, the European Union failed to reach an accord last year. However, as the upcoming international discussion in Doha in March will take up the issue, France's support is crucial to unify the UN bloc's position.

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