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Saving the bluefin tuna

The U.S. government announced Wednesday that it supports prohibiting international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna, a move that could lead to the most sweeping trade restrictions ever imposed on the highly prized fish.

A Greenpeace activist makes a statement over a bluefin tuna, which the organization said died as a result of being caught on a fishing longline, which broke. The fish was found in the Mediterranean Sea still attached to buoys on the surface.

A Greenpeace activist makes a statement over a bluefin tuna, which the organization said died as a result of being caught on a fishing longline, which broke. The fish was found in the Mediterranean Sea still attached to buoys on the surface.

Marco Care-Greenpeace

Tuna transport floating tanks are towed from the fishing grounds off Libya to tuna ranches off Sicily, Italy. Each cage contains approximately 250 northern bluefin tuna. Over the past 40 years, the adult population of eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna has declined 72 percent.

Tuna transport floating tanks are towed from the fishing grounds off Libya to tuna ranches off Sicily, Italy. Each cage contains approximately 250 northern bluefin tuna. Over the past 40 years, the adult population of eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna has declined 72 percent.

Greenpeace

A Japanese fisherman loads fish caught at a bluefin tuna farm near Croatia before transporting them to Japan. Representatives from 175 countries will convene in late March in Doha, Qatar, to determine whether to restrict the trade of bluefin tuna and an array of other imperiled species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

A Japanese fisherman loads fish caught at a bluefin tuna farm near Croatia before transporting them to Japan. Representatives from 175 countries will convene in late March in Doha, Qatar, to determine whether to restrict the trade of bluefin tuna and an array of other imperiled species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Stringer-AFP/Getty Images

A wholesale retailer checks bluefin tuna caught in the Indian Ocean, at the Rungis wholesale market, south of Paris. France favors a ban on the export of bluefin tuna but wants an 18-month delay before the measure would be imposed, said Ecology Minister Jean-Louis Borloo.

A wholesale retailer checks bluefin tuna caught in the Indian Ocean, at the Rungis wholesale market, south of Paris. France favors a ban on the export of bluefin tuna but wants an 18-month delay before the measure would be imposed, said Ecology Minister Jean-Louis Borloo.

Christophe Ena-AP

Greenpeace activists chain themselves and cover suppliers of threatened bluefin, yellowfin and bigeye tuna stands with fishing nets at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels. Greenpeace is contacting leading retailers and bulk users of seafood asking them to ensure that what they sell is legal, sustainable and fair.

Greenpeace activists chain themselves and cover suppliers of threatened bluefin, yellowfin and bigeye tuna stands with fishing nets at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels. Greenpeace is contacting leading retailers and bulk users of seafood asking them to ensure that what they sell is legal, sustainable and fair.

Philip Reynaers-Greenpeace

A fishmonger (center) prepares to slice into a large bluefin tuna at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market. Japan, the world's largest bluefin consumer, opposes the idea of trade restrictions on the fish enjoyed by many sushi aficionados. The European Union, however, has yet to take a formal position.

A fishmonger (center) prepares to slice into a large bluefin tuna at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market. Japan, the world's largest bluefin consumer, opposes the idea of trade restrictions on the fish enjoyed by many sushi aficionados. The European Union, however, has yet to take a formal position.

Yoshikazu Tsuno-AFP/Getty Images

The U.S. government announced Wednesday, March 3, that it supports prohibiting international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna.

The U.S. government announced Wednesday, March 3, that it supports prohibiting international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Yoshikazu Tsuno-AFP/Getty Images

At a cannery in the Maldives, Greenpeace reports that the fish here are processed to the strictest regulations of health and safety. The tuna canned here are caught with pole and line fishing practice, an old traditional technique, which is selective and therefore a more sustainable way to catch tuna.

At a cannery in the Maldives, Greenpeace reports that the fish here are processed to the strictest regulations of health and safety. The tuna canned here are caught with pole and line fishing practice, an old traditional technique, which is selective and therefore a more sustainable way to catch tuna.

Paul Hilton-Greenpeace

Yellowfin tuna, popular on many sushi menus, is among the species that are seriously threatened due to overfishing.

Yellowfin tuna, popular on many sushi menus, is among the species that are seriously threatened due to overfishing.

Paul Hilton-Greenpeace

The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior is part of a protest to demand action to protect the endangered Mediterranean bluefin tuna from commercial extinction. The boat is positioned alongside floating cages containing the fish.

The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior is part of a protest to demand action to protect the endangered Mediterranean bluefin tuna from commercial extinction. The boat is positioned alongside floating cages containing the fish.

Aytunc Akad-Greenpeace

Fishmongers inspect large bluefin tuna before auction at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market. The large declines in the bluefin tuna population came even though its fishing was being governed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, which sets catch quotas for the fish and aims to curtail illegal fishing.

Fishmongers inspect large bluefin tuna before auction at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market. The large declines in the bluefin tuna population came even though its fishing was being governed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, which sets catch quotas for the fish and aims to curtail illegal fishing.

Yoshikazu Tsuno-AFP/Getty Images

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This Story U.S. supports trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna Article \| The U.S. government announced Wednesday that it supports prohibiting international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna, a move that could lead to the most sweeping trade restrictions ever imposed on the highly prized fish. From the Archive: Overfishing Affects Tokoyo's Tuna Supply Saving the bluefin tuna This Story Japan says it won't comply with bluefin tuna ban Article \| TOKYO -- Japan and the United States keep rubbing each other the wrong way. Saving the bluefin tuna From the Archive: Overfishing affects Tokyo's tuna supply U.S. supports trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna		Network News X Profile View More Activity TOOLBOX E-Mail This Reprints		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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