Bangkok, 5 June 2004: One of the world's leading conservationists warned delegates at an international fisheries conference today that the tuna industry is still vulnerable to attacks by environmentalist campaign groups despite its progress with making catches "dolphin safe".

Speaking at "INFOFISH TUNA 2004" in Bangkok, Eugene Lapointe, President of IWMC World Conservation Trust, cautioned that fisheries has now become one of the main campaign issues for animal rights and animal welfare NGOs (non-governmental organizations).

Mr. Lapointe observed that the attack on tuna fisheries is no longer focused on the impact of fishing methods, but has switched to allegations surrounding the health affects of consuming fish, with the aim of reducing world demand.

Mr. Lapointe said: "Campaign groups are already claiming that tuna and other fish are heavily contaminated with organo-chlorines, mercury and other substances. Their claims are carefully calculated to frighten people, with the aim of destroying the global market for these products."

In his lecture, Mr. Lapointe noted that NGO campaigners have systematically attacked the whale, seal, shark, caviar and tuna industries. Animal rights and animal welfare groups lobby at international meetings that can impact fisheries such as CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which is now gradually expanding its role into the management of fish stocks. Constructive actions, such as the reduction of the Japanese tuna fleet, receive no credit and do nothing to reduce attacks on the industry.

Mr. Lapointe said: "The NGOs are not susceptible to rational argument because if they were, they would fail. Like the mythical shark that must go forward to eat, and eat to go forward, the NGOs must raise money in order to have the funding to raise more money."

Mr. Lapointe urged delegates to recognize the dangers now facing the tuna industry. He said: "What the tuna industry must grasp is that this is a struggle for its very survival."

For further information, contact Eugène Lapointe
Florida: +1(727) 734-4949 or email: iwmc@iwmc.org