Japan Plans to Ignore any Ban on Bluefin Tuna
Japans concern regarding the ban via CITES platform is quiet understandable, since nearly 80 of the bluefin tuna catch is consumed by Japan alone. Sushi restaurants are one of the most ludicrous industries in Japan and it will be severe blow for the industry if the fishing of these fish is banned by CITES. Japan is concerned that the ban enforced by CITES will be a permanent since there is no example that a ban imposed by CITES on any specie is lifted in the past. Thus in this way it would be harmful for Japans sushi industry and will affect thousands of workers and will be a severe economical blow for the countries already depressed economy. That is the primary reason why Japan wants to use ICCAT platform for enforcing any ban on the fishing of the species, since it would be always easier for Japan to convince a lift on the ban when the situation becomes more favorable for the country.
The article illustrates how a country is trying to tackle a situation in her own favor, which otherwise could become harmful for the countrys economy. Thus Japan wants to avoid a broader forum, where any change or lift in the ban in the future will require the approval of two-third of the 175 member countries, which is really very difficult and practically unachievable. Moreover most of the members are not the part of ludicrous bluefin tuna business, thus it is really impossible to convince them unless the population of bluefin tuna increases substantially enough to convince them, which is not possible in the near future. Therefore Japan wants to use a regional forum, created specifically for the onservation of bluefin tuna, and where most of the members are part of the bluefin tuna business and it is easy to convince them to lift the ban in the near future.
Moreover Japan has decided, to ignore the ban and take a reservation if she fails to move the debate to ICCAT platform. The language used by the Japanese authorities in the article clearly implicates that Japan has decided to go as far she can go in order to prevent a full-scale ban via CITES. Interestingly, Japan has been on odds with her closest allies in this case, the United States in particular. United States has cleared her position in this case and is approving the ban via CITES. United States seems more concern on the plunging population of tuna than the economic threat the ban gives to Japans economy.
This has resulted in a strain in the relationship between the otherwise to very friendly nations. It is quite interesting that a simple fishing matter is making the relationship of these two nations sour. Japan has decided to overlook USs stance on the issue and this is going to further strain the relations between the two countries, which already have been on a boiling spot in during the past couple of months on Toyotas callback issue.
The article also gives us an insight on what is going on European side in this regard. European Union and in particular France are the major players of bluefin tuna business, but on the contrary to Japans stance the article reports that France seems to agree with the ban. But the speculations are that France wants to keep the door open for all the possible options and dont want to miss any chance of continuing the business in the future. That is the reason that European officials want to convince the world leaders to give ICCAT another chance to increase the stocks of tuna to a significant number.
The article gives us an overview of different perspective of different countries of the world on a particular issue, and how every country wants to make the situation favorable for her an according to the principals, her stance is based.