|
eNewsletter |
February 2001 |
|
|
IWMC
World Conservation Trust |
|
OPRT, a new
organization to
eliminate unregulated fishing
|
On
December 1st, 2000, the Organization for the Promotion of Responsible
Tuna Fisheries (OPRT) was established in Tokyo at the initiative of the Japanese
Tuna Fishing Industry with the support of the Japanese Government. It was
created to ensure the sustainable use of tuna resources. Mr. Hiroya Sano,
President of the Japan Fisheries Association was appointed President.
The Japanese Government and the Tuna Industry are making every effort to
conserve and manage the tuna resources. The establishment of OPRT confirms Japan’s
intention to eliminate unregulated tuna fishing operations that target the
Japanese market.
The OPRT objective will be:
- To get rid of Flag of Convenience (FOC) tuna longline fishing vessels
operating in various parts of the world. The FOC tuna longline fishing vessels
owned by Taiwan, to which about 80 % of FOC tuna fishing vessels belong, are to
be eliminated. Funding for such elimination will be provided by tuna boat owners
from Japan and Taiwan.
- To collect and analyse data on tunas imported by Japan and therefore track
the movement of the FOC tuna fishing activities.
- To collect information on the tuna longline fishing vessels in the world and
create a list of tuna longline fishing vessels that operate under proper
management.
- To well-inform consumers on products from FOC tuna longline fishing vessels,
so that such products may be eliminated from the market.
Members of OPRT are the tuna fishing industries of Japan and Taiwan as well
as associations of marine products traders and consumers of Japan. Some
stakeholders representing producers, traders and consumers have also joined the
OPRT membership.
The OPRT calls on tuna fishing industries of other nations such as Korea,
Indonesia and People's Republic of China to become member.
Twenty-six FOC tuna longline fishing vessels are already scheduled to be
eliminated by the end of March 2001 under the newly established organisation.
|
International
workshop on Aquaculture
|
A workshop co-organised by the European Aquaculture Society (EAS) and the
Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) will be held from 19 to 21 April 2001 in
Oostende, Belgium. For more information, please contact: European Aquaculture
Society
E-mail: oost2001@aquaculture.cc and Http://www.vliz.be/eas/index.htm
Also mark your calendar for the Aquaculture Europe 2001- New Species. New
Technologies, Trondheim, Norway, August 3-7, 2001
|
