There are a lot of chickens around Porto de Galinhas, in Brazil , where ICCAT, the body responsible for mismanaging bluefin tuna, and other fish species, is meeting this week.
Seriously there are a LOT of chickens. Cheery bright-coloured wooden chicken statues litter the area, chicken garden ornaments and chicken roadside signs, not to mention chicken-shaped phone booths (I kid you not). You could easily be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled into a KFC theme park – but the chickens are here because Porto de Galinhas directly translates as 'Port of chickens'. Now that in itself is a little euphemistic – because the 'Galinhas' name apparently was derived from a derogatory name used for slaves in the area. But I guess cutesy chickens are a better way to be remembered.
"...fishing interests need to recognize is that unless something is done now, soon there will be no tuna left to fish"
NY Times editorial, 10/11/09
For us, we're here to see if there are any momentous decisions emanating from the assembled delegates for ICCAT, although we're not holding our breath, because wise decisions by some members of ICCAT are as rare as hen's teeth.
In case you missed it, it was reported last week that ICCAT's own scientists had been looking at the status of Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks. Now, the cynical amongst us were cautious about this, knowing that ICCAT desperately wants to keep control of Atlantic bluefin, and really wants to avoid the species being protected by a trade ban under CITES. That's understandable, given the vested interests of the bluefin tuna trade who ICCAT seems to bow to. So when ICCAT's own scientists concluded that a trade ban for Atlantic bluefin was justified because of how much the stock had declined – well that must have put a spanner in the works for many of the ICCAT delegates packing their flip-flops and sun tan cream for a trip to Brazil.
The simple fact is that Atlantic bluefin has been proposed for a ban under CITES. That position has been backed by many EU countries like the UK , and also it has been acknowledged by others like the US as necessary should 'ICCAT fail'. Now even a report from ICCAT's scientists suggests such a ban would be justifiable. ICCAT's meeting happens under that shadow, and there is only one commensurate outcome that ICCAT can deliver – which is quite simply to close the fishery.
Will they do that? Or will they just chicken out?
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