The purse seine industrial fleet in the Mediterranean has just one month to catch the 13,500 tonne quota authorised by the management body ICCAT (7,113 tonnes for the EU). The heavily fished bluefin tuna has become a symbol for overfishing, and fishing operations will be watched closely. European and national authorities have control plans, as do NGOs, who have vessels in the fishing zones.

For more information:

French Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries communiqué: Début de la campagne thon rouge dans un cadre de mesures strictes de limitations et de contrôles

Community Fisheries Control Agency press release: The EU control campaign for the bluefin tuna for 2010 kicks off

Greenpeace press release: Rainbow Warrior to Set Sail to Shut Down Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna Fishing

Article in La Provence newspaper: Campagne amère pour les thoniers marseillais

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