WWF Illustrates Tuna Fishing Problem in the Coral Triangle through Animation
“Millions of people around the world enjoy eating tuna everyday yet not many of them put much thought into how this fish ends up on their plate. This video will hopefully inform and educate consumers on the important issues surrounding their favorite seafood,” says Dr. Jose Ingles, WWF Coral Triangle Global Initiative Tuna Strategy Leader.
The Coral Triangle, a 6 million square kilometer ocean expanse covering the seas of six countries in Asia and the Pacific, is the world’s tuna factory—a tuna nursery ground and migratory pathway for some of the world’s most commercially-valuable tuna species, including Yellowfin, Bigeye, and Skipjack tunas.
The Coral Triangle produces almost 30 per cent of the total global tuna catch, contributing as much as 35 per cent to the total tuna catch coming from the Western Central Pacific Ocean (which accounts for more than half the world’s tuna production).
However, little benefits are channeled back to the Coral Triangle for better regulation and management of tuna spawning and nursery grounds and juvenile populations, threatening already dwindling tuna fish stocks in the ocean today.
“A more equitable distribution of tuna benefits to help protect this nursery of the seas urgently needs to happen if we are to ensure the sustainability of this valuable resource to meet present and future demands on tuna,” adds Dr. Ingles.
Watch this short and informative video on http://youtu.be/PKCQZVjT-p0 and share it around. For more information on WWF’s tuna work in the Coral Triangle, visit www.panda.org/coraltriangle/tuna.
- The Coral Triangle—the nursery of the seas—is the world’s center of marine life, encompassing around 6 million sq km of ocean across six countries in Asia-Pacific – Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.
- It is home to 76% of the world’s known coral species, 37% of the world’s coral reef fish species, and commercially-valuable species such as tuna, whales, dolphins, rays, sharks, including 6 of the world’s 7 known species of marine turtles.
- The Coral Triangle directly sustains the lives of more than 120 million people and contains key spawning and nursery grounds for tuna. Its reef and coastal systems also underpin a growing tourism sector.
- WWF is working with governments, local communities, businesses, and consumers to promote sustainable development in this region. For information on Coral Triangle go to: www.panda.org/coraltriangle
For further information:
Paolo P. Mangahas
Communications Manager, WWF Coral Triangle Programme
Tel: +603 7803 3772