Alberton -
An Island member of the International Commission on the Conservation (ICCAT) of Atlantic Tuna is hopeful Canada's reputation for effectively managing the tuna fishery will carry some weight during this week's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Doha, Qatar.
Tuna is one of the species on the convention's agenda.
Alberton fisher Doug Fraser is anxiously awaiting that discussion, admitting it could lead to a range of restrictions on the fishery, including an export ban on Atlantic bluefin.
Canada's delegation has already indicated it is opposed to a ban.
A ban would be particularly harmful to P.E.I. and its hook-and-line fishery, said Fraser, who pointed out that Island fishers hold 47 per cent of the Canadian licences for bluefin.
Some estimates place the value of the Atlantic bluefin to P.E.I. at around $5 million annually. Even at that, said Fraser, the amount of tuna Canada lands is quite small in comparison to some countries.
"Canada can present itself almost as a model nation in terms of how it manages its fishery."
Fraser said Island fishers reported large numbers of bluefin last fall, and some areas of the United States were showing encouraging signs.
"We don't consider the western stock as being in trouble."
