The Mediterranean Comeback: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna’s Revival Through Sustainable Living Practices

Near the beginning of the century, the Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean stood as a symbol of unfolding crisis. Industrial fleets equipped with purse seine nets and longlines swept through bluefin nursery grounds along the coasts of Spain, Italy and Tunisia, capturing tens of thousands of tonnes each year. By 2007, biomass estimates had fallen to a mere 5 per cent of historically sustainable levels. The majestic fish teetered on the edge of commercial extinction. Researchers warned that without decisive action, the Mediterranean population of these fish could vanish within a decade.

However, the story did not end in collapse. In 2010, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) implemented a landmark 19 per cent reduction in catch quotas for Mediterranean bluefin tuna, coupled with tighter monitoring and mandatory reporting schemes. Seasonal bans were introduced during the critical spawning months of May to June, when female bluefin gather to release millions of eggs in offshore waters. Fishing vessels were obliged to install vessel monitoring systems and carry independent observers. From small‐scale fishers in the Balearic Islands to larger operations in Sicily, compliance gradually became the norm rather than the exception. These measures laid the groundwork for recovery and signalled a new era of responsibility.