They've been at the forefront of the media industry, international popular cinema and, unfortunately, the international culinary elite. Bluefish tuna have become the worldwide symbol for the state of the over-fished oceans.

Brought into focus by Cannes film festival only a few years ago with the debut of The End of the Line (a film documenting the harsh realities and fishing habits of local and international fisherman) bluefish tuna are on the brink of extinction.

Leading national tuna industries remain polemic in their approach to such a serious topic. Two countries in particular - Malta, who harvest a billion dollar tuna industry, and Greece, another nation with a thriving fishing market - are posed to take up this discussion this March, through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) which is sure to expand on the problems facing the bluefin tuna and its equals this Spring.

Despite international rallying to ban fishing on this particular species, the bluefin remains only three years away from total extinction, scientists say.

The EU Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas, has been a key speaker for the ban to take place. On an ethical and economical footing, Dimas has taken a stand against continued harvesting of bluefin. His arguments have followed such logical conclusions that insist by following existing methods the industry is simply creating cause for its own collapse.

In reaction to recent media coverage concerning these affairs, high street retailers such as Pret have since taken positive action to help ensure the survival of the bluefin and the longevity of tuna fishing as a whole. The End of the Line movie-documentary also did its best to bring together the severity of the situation and rise it to the fore of public concern.

But now, with Maltese interests defining the short-term tone of political response to existing concerns, there seems to be waves of ecological pessimism driving through our soon to be empty oceans.

Cites, who was instrumental in saving the African elephant from ivory poachers, rely on European support in banning trade in the bluefin. Hopes rest with commissioners such as Nicolas Sarkozy, who last year publicly supported that a ban should be enforced. However, as was proved since the ebb-and-flow of last year's political declarations, the French industry's interest may not be enough to keep support for the ban buoyant.

One can only wait and watch as issues like that of the bluefin tuna are sprinkled into March's political fish tank, and hope that any growing pessimism is filtered out.

Posted under Articles, Wildlife