Bowles calls for total ban on trade in blue fin tuna

3.36.48pm GMT Thu 11th Feb 2010

South East MEP Sharon Bowles has called for a total ban on the trade in blue fin tuna.

The huge Mediterranean fish, beloved of Japanese sushi eaters, is the most expensive food in the world. Individual fish can sell for more than 10,000 euros.

WWF, the Worldwide Fund for Nature, claims that stocks of blue fin tuna have collapsed and that the fish will become extinct if controls are not introduced urgently.

Organised crime is also said to be involved in the lucrative business, flouting all EU controls on the fishery.

Now it appears that with so much money to be made, the Mafia have become involved.

Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles said that unless trade was halted there would be no blue fin tuna left.

"It is time to protect this critically endangered fish before they disappear from our seas."

Ministers must now agree a European position to take at the next meeting of CITES (the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species) that takes place next month.

The UK Government has already indicated that it supports a total ban.

ENDS