Fed: Govt must better protect fish Democrats

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2000
Fed: Govt must better protect fish Democrats

CANBERRA, Aug 8 AAP - Japan's ability to overfish southern bluefin tuna proved the
federal government must enter into tougher world environmental agreements, the Australian
Democrats said today.

Japan yesterday claimed victory in its battle to hunt bluefin tuna after a United Nations
tribunal stated it had no power to intervene despite appeals from Australia and New Zealand.

"This reinforces the need for stronger international agreements to enforce environmental
protection," Democrats environment spokesman Andrew Bartlett said in a statement.

"The federal government should spend less time attacking United Nations treaties and
committees and more time using and ensuring these international mechanisms work to protect
Australia's environment, rather than damage it."

Senator Bartlett joined conservationists in blaming government inaction for allowing
the Japanese to continue to threaten fish stocks.

"Unfortunately the Environment Minister, Senator (Robert) Hill, ignored previous Democrat
calls to list the southern bluefin tuna under the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES)," he said.

"The minister must remedy this situation and immediately move to list the tuna on appendix
three of CITES, which would at least ensure monitoring of tuna stocks leading up to the
next CITES meeting."

The Humane Society International yesterday called on the government to pursue a CITES
listing for the fish.

The government does have one last chance to act against Japan in the lead-up to the
next CITES meeting, in 2002.

AAP lm/ss/cjh

KEYWORD: JAPAN TUNA AUST (CARRIED EARLIER)

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