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Bluefin Tuna

Volume 498: debated on Thursday 29 October 2009

21. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on preservation of bluefin tuna. (296324)

Bluefin tuna was the subject of a Commission presentation and statements by member states at the October Council of Fisheries Ministers in preparation for the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. I have stated previously that UK supports CITES listing for this species. However, in line with the common EU position, I look forward to ICCAT coming forward with appropriate management measures to reflect the latest stock position. I have made clear to EU colleagues that this is a critical issue and a test of ICCAT’s credibility.