Saving the Bluefin Tuna

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The allusive bluefin tuna is one of the largest, fastest and highly sought after fish in the wild sea. The Bluefin tuna can weigh over half a ton, grow to over four metres in length, and dive to depths of 1,000 metres. They can reach speeds of 70 miles an hour and even raise their body temperature far above that of the surrounding water in order to traverse arctic waters. They are among the most ambitiously migratory of all fish, with some tagged bluefin being tracked swimming from North American to European waters several times a year. The bluefin tuna is unique, a perfectly adapted products of evolution. They are also dangerously close to becoming extinct (Brown). Today, the bluefin tuna has been fished out by 97 percent from pre-fishing levels in the fifties (Walsh). Much of that depletion in stock comes from overfishing. Fished for their dense, dark red meat used in sushi, the Bluefin tuna has become a highly valuable fish for commercial fishing as consumers continue to want more and will pay high prices to get it (Foster). Scientist however, request sushi lovers to stop eating the bluefin tuna, to help stocks regain balance (Walsh).
While much of the developed world enjoys sushi as well, Japan itself consumes 80 percent of the bluefin tuna caught worldwide. In Japan, where sushi is a cultural delicacy, and is taken very seriously, the best pieces of sashimi or O-Toro which are small, raw, thinly sliced pieces of Bluefin, can sell for as much as $24 a piece for a 1 oz. portion in upscale sushi restaurants. (Foster) At the beginning of 2013, at the Tsukij fish market in Tokyo, the best example of the price of a bluefin tuna came when a single Bluefin tuna was sold for $1.78 million dollars. That particular bluefin weighed 489 p...

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...cember 2013.
In the article, “Japans Bluefin Tuna is Disappearing: Few Chefs Fear Shortage”, by Malcolm Foster, The author explains how Japan views the bluefin tuna. He also gives details on the industry and its roll it plays within japan.
Mercopress. Bluefin Tuna opens 2013 with record auction price at Tsukiji: 1.78 million dollars. (2013). Web. 20 December 2013.
In the article,” Bluefin Tuna opens 2013 with record auction price at Tsukiji.”
The article explains how a single bluefin tuna sold for 1.78 million dollars, and the reason it went for so much.

Walsh, Bryan. Pacific Bluefin Tuna: Going, Going. (2013). Web. 20 December 2013.
In the article, “Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Going, Going” by Bryan Walsh, the author explains the situation surrounding the bluefin tuna. The author quotes scientific evidence with authors in the field of marine biology and studies.

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