Small steps for tuna, sharks and swordfish

Measures to prevent illicit fishing of Mediterranean bluefin tuna have been strengthened at the annual meeting of governments involved in the industry.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (Iccat) decided to implement an electronic system for recording bluefin catches.

Research shows catches have been far higher than skippers have declared.

The meeting, in Turkey, also gave extra protection to the silky shark, whose numbers are falling because of fishing.

Tuna boats often snare this species by accident; and now, fishermen will have to release them alive.

Government delegates also voted through a minimum legal size for swordfish, and will draw up a comprehensive recovery plan in 2013.

But proposals for protecting the porbeagle shark, classified as vulnerable to extinction on the internationally recognised Red List, were rebuffed.

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Sushi bar owners buy giant tuna for $400,000

Source: AHN
Reporter: Windsor Genova
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Published: January 5, 2011 5:09 p.m. EST

Two sushi bar owners set the world record for the most expensive fresh fish Wednesday by jointly buying a giant bluefin tuna weighing 754 pounds for $390,262 at a Tokyo market.

Hong Kong-based Itamae Sushi chain owner Ricky Cheng and the owner of Tokyo’s Kyubey won the bidding for the fish in the first auction of the year on the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, also known as Tsukiji market.

The price of the tuna caught off Toi in Hokkaido beat the previous record bid of $242,627 for a 445-pound tuna in the same market in 2001.

The same buyers, who beat Chinese bidders in the tuna auction, also bought the highest priced tuna last year and in 2009.

Tuna is popular among Japanese, who are the largest consumer of the said fish in the world.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7021288330?Sushi%20bar%20owners%20buy%20giant%20tuna%20for%20$400,000

Sushi bar owners buy giant tuna for $400,000

Source: AHN
Reporter: Windsor Genova
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Published: January 5, 2011 5:09 p.m. EST

Two sushi bar owners set the world record for the most expensive fresh fish Wednesday by jointly buying a giant bluefin tuna weighing 754 pounds for $390,262 at a Tokyo market.

Hong Kong-based Itamae Sushi chain owner Ricky Cheng and the owner of Tokyo’s Kyubey won the bidding for the fish in the first auction of the year on the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, also known as Tsukiji market.

The price of the tuna caught off Toi in Hokkaido beat the previous record bid of $242,627 for a 445-pound tuna in the same market in 2001.

The same buyers, who beat Chinese bidders in the tuna auction, also bought the highest priced tuna last year and in 2009.

Tuna is popular among Japanese, who are the largest consumer of the said fish in the world.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7021288330?Sushi%20bar%20owners%20buy%20giant%20tuna%20for%20$400,000