The US has agreed to back an international ban on trade in critically endangered bluefin tuna, and now the European Union nations will do so as well, with Malta being the only dissenting vote. That still leaves us with Japan, which consumes about 80% of the world's bluefin tuna, saying it won't participate when CITES votes to ban trade next week.
That said, the European Union will back exemptions for traditional fishermen (though hasn't specified what that exactly is), as well as deferring participating in the ban for one year. The United States has supported no such conditions.
WWF's Sergi Tudela was quick to praise the move, with some conditions of its own:
-With the two largest holders of bluefin tuna fishing quota on either side of the Atlantic now supporting the trade ban, other countries should follow suit.
-Our only remaining concern is that we do not understand the need on the part of the EU for conditions to be attached… WWF believes this trade ban should be implemented without conditions or delay.