MEPs declare war on tuna mafia

A North West MEP has taken a lead in persuading the European Parliament to push for a total ban on trade in blue fin tuna.

The huge Mediterranean fish, beloved of Japanese sushi eaters, is the most expensive food in the world.  Individual fish can sell for more than €10,000.

WWF, the Worldwide Fund for Nature, claims that stocks of blue fin tuna have collapsed and that the fish will become extinct if controls are not introduced urgently.

Organised crime is also said to be involved in the lucrative business, flouting all EU controls on the fishery.

Euro-MP Chris Davies, speaking in the Strasbourg debate, said the Mafia had become involved because there was so much money to be made.

The Liberal Democrat said that unless trade was halted there would be no blue fin tuna left.

“It is time to protect this fish before they disappear from our seas.”

Ministers must now agree a European position to take at the next meeting of CITES (the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species) that takes place next month.

The UK Government has already indicated that it supports a total ban.