The End of the Line is a Murray documentary on commercia overfishing in

[Ilsa]

all of our oceans and seas, the pending extinction of tuna species, and the resulting inability of people to feed themselves in third world countries. It's playing on Sundance Channel several times over the next few weeks. It's a 2009 documentary, but looks very interesting. Probably still a very important topic because it appears that corporate interests have supecseded biology.

[badtoworse]

1. I'll look for it

The problem is complicated, especially with pelagics like tuna. They roam the oceans of the world and management needs to be done globally. Obtaining agreement among various fishing countries is difficult and enforcement is nearly impossible.

[Ilsa]

2. There is discussion of that fact and that corporations, even diversified ones like

Mitsubishi, are violating agreements and recommendations to hoard the declining population of tuna like blue fin so they can sell it for astronomical prices after it becomes extinct.

[badtoworse]

3. That does not make sense

The only tuna that commands the astronomical prices is the absolutely freshest fatty bluefin tuna. The Japanese will pack a fresh tuna with ice in a body bag and air freight it to Tokyo. Tuna that had been stored for just a day or two would not be sushi grade and would be worth far less. Tuna van be frozen for short periods, but again, the quality suffers, as does the price.

The real problem is a refusal by certain countries (like North Korea) to participate in any conservation efforts. There is also a problem with rules not being enforced where the fish are landed. Poachers can frequently sell their catch with impunity which makes enforcement difficult.