Efforts to protect the Atlantic bluefin tuna suffered a blow on Thursday when dozens of countries voted against a trade ban, drawing condemnation from environmental groups. At the 175-nation meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Doha, 68 countries, opposed a proposal from Monaco for a trade ban, while 20 governments voted in favour and 30 abstained, the environmental organization WWF said. Stocks of Atlantic bluefin tuna, prized as a delicacy in Japan, have plunged more than 80 percent since 1970, according to CITES.

Dohert, R. (2010, March 20). Bluefin tuna trade ban fails to pass: 68 governments vote against ban, 20 in favor. Manila Bulletin, p. B-6.