[Greens-Media] Government won't take action on Tuna extinction

[Ludlam, Scott (Sen R. Siewert)]

Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Senator for WA

Monday, 14 August 2006

Government won't take action on Tuna extinction

"After questioning in the Senate today on illegal tuna fishing, it is
obvious that all we will see is one of the Environment Minister's
talkfests, the same as he has given us with whaling. I think people are
sick and tired of hearing spin instead of seeing action from this
Minister."


"This species is facing extinction before our eyes. The Minister's
obligations are crystal clear. Instead of platitudes about 'win-win'
situations, it's about time we saw action from this Minister, not
words." 


In the wake of revelations that $2 billion worth of illegally caught
tuna has found its way onto Japanese markets, Senator Siewert has urged
Environment Minister Ian Campbell to do his job - list the species as
'threatened' under Australia's EPBC Act, and nominate the species to be
listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES). 


In September 2005, the Minister's 'Threatened Species Scientific
Committee' recommended the species be listed under the EPBC Act. The
Minister ignored this advice. The revelations that the true Japanese
catch was between two and three times higher than reported is grounds
for a review of this decision, according to Senator Siewert.


In the Senate today, Senator Rachel Siewert proposed a number of simple
measures for the Government to protect rapidly depleting stocks of
Southern Bluefin Tuna.


"This is one of the rare cases where we have the means at our disposal,
nationally and internationally, to take action to arrest the slide
toward extinction."


For more information or comment call Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025
Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au  |  http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au