Bilbao (EFE).- Public and private institutions related to the tuna sector have proposed a global alliance to promote the sustainable fishing activity of this species as a natural resource.
They also highlight the social point of view of the fishing activity, given the increase in world demand for this product.
Bilbao has hosted an international meeting in which representatives of the United Nations, the European Union and the central and Basque governments have participated, together with scientific organizations and companies.
The director of the Bermeo Tuna Forum, Helena Orella, has presented the International Declaration for the sustainability of tuna, which challenges all the agents that participate in the sector.
In his speech at that forum, the Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu, has asked the United Nations “to assume and promote” this declaration in favor of sustainable fishing and for the conservation of the marine environment.
Increase in world demand for tuna
As Orella explained, tuna accounts for 25% of the wild protein consumed worldwide.
The lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu, during the closing of the Bermeo Tuna Forum in Bilbao. EFE/Michael Tonya.
“In the sustainability of this species there is also that of the sector”, which “requires alliances, declarations and the assumption of responsibilities” in an “urgent” way to move towards sustainable fishing, he pointed out.
As he stated, consumers are “called upon to play a fundamental role in the demand for fish of sustainable origin” and avoid “others from illegal fishing that is usually linked to “human rights abuses” and violations of the conditions of the workers on those ships.
The association has officially presented a proposal for an International Declaration for the sustainability of tuna as a global “seed of an agreement”, elaborated on the joint work of the sector with the scientific community.
The text confirms that more than 80 countries have a fishing sector dedicated to tuna, with thousands of boats that fish in the oceans of the entire world and generate almost 60 million jobs.
Fishing reached a world production of around 95 million tons in 2020, of which 5.3 million tons corresponded to the main tuna species.
Recent assessments of tuna stocks have concluded that in the future there will be no scope to increase tuna fishing while ensuring the exploitation of fish stocks under sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions.
However, due to the forecast increase in the world population and climate change, the world per capita consumption of tuna will increase significantly and the demand will be difficult to satisfy.
For all this, “raw materials in food will become more expensive, especially tuna, and food will be as strategic a resource as energy”, they have warned.
Threat to sustainability
Given this perspective, they have predicted that “the factors that pose a serious threat to the sustainability of the fishing sector in the long term” will worsen.
They have cited overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. It is estimated that at present one million tons of the tuna that is traded could come from illegal fishing.
Labor conditions will also deteriorate, which in “some cases are already precarious and even slave-owning, often linked to illegal fishing,” while environmental degradation will increase, predicts the statement.
The promoters of the text propose a commitment to “address the sustainability of tuna in a comprehensive manner, recognizing the environmental, social, economic and cultural characteristics of fisheries and the people involved in their management and exploitation.”
They have also promised to “promote social standards and the improvement of labor rights for all those involved” in their fishing, “promote gender equality at all stages of the tuna value chain”, and “support communities of artisanal and responsible fishing”.
At the same time, they will promote “the nutritional value of tuna as a healthy food source” and guarantee “full traceability of all catches in tuna fishing, from the net to the plate” to prevent fraud and the entry of illegal fishing. in legal commercial circuits, among other measures.
The Basque sector, “exemplary
The lehendakari has opined that only through “responsible” fishing will we be able to guarantee that fishing can continue to be carried out” because “demand has grown exponentially in recent years, but the mass of fish has not”.
Bermeo’s tuna vessels capture 10% of the total tuna catches from around the world” and the Basque Country wants to “continue to be a reference in the world of fishing”, he assured while stating that “not everything is valid to be able to carry fish to our tables.
In this way, he has valued that the declaration promotes applying “the same rules of the game for everyone” as “the only way to continue with this activity.” EFE