Japan Will Not Comply With Bluefin Ban

According to a Japanese government official, Japan will not comply with a total ban on Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. I can’t say that I’m surprised.

Bluefin tuna is a highly valued fish worth up to $200-$300 per kg but stocks have depleted rapidly. It is particularly sought-after in Japan, where a single fish can fetch as much a $100,000.

“If worse comes to worst, Japan will have no choice but to lodge its reservations,” Senior Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Masahiko Yamada, was quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency.

Some 175 countries are due to vote on 40 proposals at a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Doha, Qatar, on March 13-25. The proposals include whether to list bluefin tuna as endangered.

A two-thirds majority is required for it to be accepted and Japan is expected to fight hard against the ban.

France and Italy have also recently reversed their opposition to a ban. The European Union’s executive said last month that Atlantic bluefin tuna should be protected from being pushed to extinction by Japanese sushi lovers.

via Reuters

Is Japan tired of feeling like it’s being pushed around by other nations? Forced to make decisions about its own waters and culture? Are the waters off the coast of Japan the proving grounds for Japan’s rebellion?

What do you think?

“Mexican Walking Fish” Threatened With Extinction

Ok, first of all it’s not actually a fish it’s a Salamander and they’re called Axolotls (pronounced ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl). These guys wear their gills on the outside and are able to regenerate most body parts should they become damaged or severed.

One problem is with non-native fish species like the Asian Carp and the African Tilapia that eat young Axolotls. They haven’t evolved in the same environment, so they don’t have good defense mechanisms against them.

The other big issue is habitat destruction. Lakes have been drained, and wastewater from Mexico City pollute waterways. This will not be easy to fix, but something will have to be done because these species that are threatened are just the canary in the coal mine. Bigger problems are on the horizon.

Scientists have yet to agree on a method to save these creatures, but a sanctuary is expected to open in the next few months in the waters around the Isla de las Muñecas (Island of the Dolls), apparently named such because “the owner hangs dolls he finds in the canals to ward off evil spirits.” I’m not even kidding, check out these photos of the Isla de las Muñecas.

You can get Axolotls as pets, but taking care of them doesn’t seem to be very easy. I wouldn’t recommend buying one for your teenage daughter as a replacement for her NeoPet that’s for sure!

Beluga Whales Now Endnagered

I had the chance to see belugas first hand at the Georgia Aquarium earlier this year and they are an incredible animal. While they aren’t technically a fish, they are one of the most amazing creatures in our oceans and they have recently been recognized as an endangered species. Belugas are incredibly intelligent, just take a look at this video.

via Tree Hugger