Spill may cut into New England bluefin tuna catch

[jpak]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/06/02/gulf_oil_spill_may_harm_new_englands_bluefin_catch/

The fate of one of New England’s most prized fish may be unfolding more than a thousand miles away in the Gulf of Mexico.

Bluefin tuna — so desired by sushi devotees that a single giant fish fetches thousands of dollars — are believed to spawn off the United States only in the Gulf and mostly during April and May. This year, both coincided with the worst oil spill in the nation’s history.

As oil gushes up from the seabed and spreads, scientists are studying whether bluefin larvae the size of a pencil tip will survive the leak. The answer could have important consequences for New England, where many of the tuna migrate each year and where bluefin fishing season opened yesterday.

“I suspect the larvae and eggs won’t be able to escape if they oil,’’ said Jim Franks, senior scientist at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.

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[Captain Hilts]

1. Let's just say 'wildlife' and leave the edible part out. nt

[phantom power]

2. +1

[Jennicut]

3. Now we get screwed too, up here in New England.

Thanks BP.

[obxhead]

4. We should put drastic limits on fishing for these tuna until

it can be determined the extent of the damage to the populations. Over fishing now, while breeding is effected so much could make it an extreme double whammy.

[Nihil]

5. Good luck with that ...

History suggests that the usual way that overfishing stops is when
the fishermen have killed off the fishery ...

:banghead: