2 forums in Japan focus on tuna and overfishing

The International Tuna Fishers Conference on Responsible Fisheries and The Third International Fishers Forum convened jointly starting yesterday and will continue until July 29, 2005, at the Inter Continental The Grand Yokohama Hotel, in Yokohama, Japan.

Both meetings are co-hosted by the Organization for the Responsible Tuna Fisheries and the U.S. Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and supported by Fisheries Agency of the Japanese Government, National Marine Fisheries Service of the U.S. Government, Japan Fisheries Association and Hawaii Longline Association.

More than 150 participants from 26 countries, including tuna fishers from the Pacific-rim areas centering on Asia, researchers, government officials and environmental non-government organizations, are meeting to exchange views on various issues important for ensuring the sustainability of tuna resources. Among the topics being discussed are excessive fishing capacity; illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities; and incidental catch of marine living resources such as seabirds and sea turtles, as well as the uncontrolled rapid expansion of tuna farming. The aim of the meetings is to motivate fishers to recognize and fund effective and practical ways to address these issues and to further promote responsible tuna fisheries. (PR)