MEPs declare war on endangered species mafia

3.40.00am GMT Fri 12th Feb 2010

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, a long time tiger campaigner, has backed a European Parliament call for the EU to push at the forthcoming 'CITES' (Convention on International Trade in endangered species) conference in March for total ban on trade in a number of endangered species.

MEPs included a call for new bans on sales of blue fin tuna and polar bears, a rejection of the request by Tanzania and Zambia to sell ivory, and a strengthening of the efforts to stop illegal trade in the parts of tigers and other Asian big cats. Major criminal mafia gangs are engaged in much of this illicit trade.

Blue fin tuna, much valued by Japanese sushi eaters, is the most expensive food in the world. Individual fish can sell for more than €10,000. But the World Wildlife Fund warns that blue fin will become extinct if fishing controls are not introduced urgently.

Sarah Ludford Lib Dem MEP for London said:

"Unless the illegal trade in endangered species is halted and loopholes plugged, soon there will be no blue fin tuna left, no Asian tigers, no polar bears and no African elephants. The contemplation of a world without these species is horrific, and a huge indictment of mankind."

"The potential for huge profits has led the mafia to become involved. A total ban on the trade of these products, which will have to be firmly policed, will also undercut these unscrupulous criminals."

ENDS