“Save the tuna” campaign celebrates its third anniversary

Conservation Director at the Aquarium, Debora Morrison said that if the project manages to have a marine reserve set up in Balearic waters, it will act as a safe haven in which young tuna can grow to reach maturity. It will also act as a refuge for other Mediterranean species currently under threat through overfishing or due to destruction of the marine environment.

Restrictions
Morrison said that since the start of the “Save the Tuna” campaign, conservationsists had succeeded in having legislation imposed on those countries hunting the tuna so that up until 2022, they will have to make do with lower catches. Similarly, restrictions have been placed on sports fishermen who catch tuna for pleasure rather than business.

Controls of fishing boats licensed to hunt tuna have also been stepped up in the Mediterranean. This includes inspections of catches in the ports where trawlers dock.

Three years ago, the conservation campaign got off to a grand start with the screening of a documentary on the threat to the blue fin tuna called “The end of the line.” The showing was attended by Doña Sofía, the Queen of Spain, herself a keen supporter of the preservation of natural flora and fauna. Apparently, the campaign has been acknowledged at an international level with Euro MP and Vice President of the Grup Verdes/ALE company, Raul Romeva commenting on the conservation achievements of Palma Aquarium to the European Parliament. “From now on,” said Morrison yesterday “our activities will focus on maintaining the restrictions we have so far put in place, and the excellent relations we have established with organisations who have contributed so profoundly to the Save the Tuna campaign and its ultimate goal of creating a marine reserve.”