Domestic Economic Impacts of a CITES Appendix I Listing for Bluefin Tuna

This report examines what the economic impact would be on U.S. seafood markets, from fishermen to retailers, if bluefin tuna were listed among the most threatened creatures by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). It explores the current market for bluefin in the United States, including landings, exports, imports and re‐exports.

The data come from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Bluefin Statistical Document (BSD). This reporting system was mandated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and is far more rigorous than the catch documentation schemes for any other U.S. domestically landed species.

The economic impact for the current level of bluefin landings and trade are calculated along with forecasts of the economic impacts on domestic bluefin fishing activities if CITES regulations were imposed.