Friday July 3, 2009, 7:31 am
The Mediterranean Sea must be closed to commercial fishing, and especially to the fishing of the bluefin tuna.


“The bluefin tuna will be commercially extinct within three years unless governments act now, act decisively and act aggressively,” said Captain Paul Watson, Executive Director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. “Anyone who catches a bluefin, anyone who buys and sells a bluefin, and anyone who eats a bluefin tuna is an ecological criminal.”


The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is looking for a ship, volunteers, and sponsors to finance a major interventionist campaign against illegal fishing in the Mediterranean.


“There are more than 600 poaching vessels operating in the Mediterranean and they are literally wiping the living resources into extinction,” said Captain Paul Watson. “We must intervene and we must take whatever risks are required to drive these criminals from the sea. We have the experience and the courage to take on these thugs, all we need is the support.”


Actor Robert De Niro as a co-owner of the notorious Nobu restaurant chain has refused to use his influence to stop Nobu from purchasing bluefin and other endangered fish. “This makes him an ecological criminal in our book,” said Captain Watson. “He does not need the money. It is a mystery as to why a man with the stature of De Niro has chosen to be in cahoots with poachers. He is paid well to act as a gangster, is he so greedy that he now wants to be one?”


The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society holds the position that the worldwide catch of bluefin tuna must be reduced to zero.


The Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan is buying all the bluefin tuna they can get and freezing it, literally investing in the extinction of this magnificent warm-blooded, unique fish. Once gone, the bluefin will be extremely rare and Mitsubishi will be able to name their price.


Because of the avarice of companies like Nobu and Mitsubishi, worldwide populations of bluefin have been reduced by 90%, perhaps more.


“The killing must stop,” said Sea Shepherd France President Lamya Essemlali. “This continued slaughter is intolerable.”


The European Union quotas are being ignored. The regulations are being ignored. bluefin is being smuggled out of Europe like an expensive drug. From poacher to buyers to consumers, the trafficking in bluefin is a billion dollar criminal enterprise.
Tuna fishing is managed by the Madrid-based International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. This is a corrupt body that is only interested in protecting the investments of the fishing industries in its 45 member countries. They ignore their own science and have been setting quotas twice as high as the industry scientists are recommending.


Turkey is demanding higher quotas, and the poachers from various nations ignore the quotas altogether.


“Give me a ship and the resources to intervene,” said Captain Watson, “And I will patrol the Mediterranean on a campaign to destroy the nets of every illegally operated fishing vessel we can track down. We need to get tough on these poachers before we lose the bluefin forever.”

Friday July 3, 2009, 7:40 am
Thanks Caludia.. this is very serious and troubling indeed... :(

Friday July 3, 2009, 9:37 am
If anyone can stop them, it's the Sea Shepherd! You Go Captain Watson!

Friday July 3, 2009, 2:53 pm
It's not just Captain Watson that needs to be out there, it's all of us, the companies and governments to stop the fishers.

Friday July 3, 2009, 6:29 pm
I stand behind Captain Watson and his efforts!!!! WTG
Tx Claudia

Saturday July 4, 2009, 2:18 am
I am not fond of the seal slaughter in Canada and I was delighted when the EU countries banned its import. This is why I simply don't understand why they don't move more forcefully to halt the devastating effect these poachers have on the magnificent Bluefin Tuna! I hope Captain Watson sinks every one of their vessels!

Saturday July 4, 2009, 5:39 am
Captain Watson is a great person and I commend him on all his hard work and dedication! I hope he gets all the help and support he needs asap. Thanks Claudia for sharing!

Saturday July 4, 2009, 1:18 pm
Thanks Claudia xx

Saturday July 4, 2009, 2:45 pm
Thanks Claudia .........Noted and Shared.

Sunday July 5, 2009, 2:04 am
thanks claudia paul watson to the rescue again

Sunday July 5, 2009, 4:59 am
Thanks, Claudia, for informing us of Sea Shepherd's leadership and good work wherever it takes them. Frances

Sunday July 5, 2009, 7:52 am
Thank God for his "Sea Shepherds" tooooo, they are doing an amazing work, and lets hope that the blue fish tuna will be saved to.... before it is tooooooo late...

Sunday July 5, 2009, 9:17 am
I get so angry over the Japanese corporations quest for profit at any and all cost to marine wildlfe. Now it's Bluefin Tuna! What will be next? Those S.O.B's. Thanks for the info Claudia.

Sunday July 5, 2009, 10:02 am
Again its the Japanese, what, do they not care, I guess money is more important than anything else. Where is there grand emperor I thought he was suppose to be this great educated person with good things for japan. He needs to bring it on and stop all the killing. Do they hate the oceans, they are trying to wipe them out. Whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, seals, and any thing that moves, they act like they have the right to kill it . I do not understand why. Onward Sea Shepherd get there fast and run their little dumb butts off. Think maybe we should think about using a boycott on Japan. Thjis Care . 2 group is real big we have a lot of people we should get some good backing, that someone could sit and notice, if we do it together.

Sunday July 5, 2009, 4:08 pm
Claudia, I'm appalled at the response of Sea Shepherd to Hugo's plea for help in saving the Namibian Fur Seals. I realise the importance of BlueFin Tuna too, but surely such a bland response from Sea Sheperd should not go unchallenged?

Monday July 6, 2009, 1:19 am
Good luck to Captain Watson! Thanks Claudia.

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 8:15 am
Thanks Claudia.

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 10:09 am
Stocking tuna in your freezer because you know within 3 years tuna will be extinct is just insane... it buys them another year of expencive frozen fish and then what ? They have to stop commercial overfishing now to give this fish a fare chance to survive before it's too late ! I'm very thankfull for what Sea Shepherd does for all marine wildlife.
Thanks Claudia, noted and signed the petition
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/appeal-to-the-european-union-to-place-a-full-ban-on-the-fishing-of-bluefin-tuna

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 8:23 pm
Profiteering from dwindling fish stocks - and contributing to their demise - is terrible.

"I'm appalled at the response of Sea Shepherd to Hugo's plea for help in saving the Namibian Fur Seals." -- Where can we find this info? Thanks

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 9:32 am
"Claudia, I'm appalled at the response of Sea Shepherd to Hugo's plea for help in saving the Namibian Fur Seals. I realise the importance of BlueFin Tuna too, but surely such a bland response from Sea Sheperd should not go unchallenged?"

Uhhhhh What ????

Monday July 13, 2009, 1:34 pm
Once again, thank you Sea Shepard! My heart is with you!

Thursday July 23, 2009, 11:09 am
Every thing that takes place in the seas due to human greed in now supposed to be Sea Shepherd's responsibiity.
How can they handle he whole of he ocean. The work they are able to do is more commendable that most, but they cannot be expected to patrol 75% of the planet. This is in response to the fact that Sea Shepherd did not make a remark acceptable to one reader about the Nambian Fur Seat culling.