Causes

     The first cause is the fishing style of long lining. This method is extremely efficient. Long lining involves deploying 60 miles of baited hooks designed to catch bluefin tuna, which is a migratory species. This style of fishing also leads to a high by-catch of varies creatures such as sharks and sea turtles.

     The other cause is the style of fishing known as purse seining. This involves boats that deploy and drag a large seine net that is capable of being pulled closed at the bottom, similar to a drawstring bag. This causes the fish with the reach of the net to be forced to the center and prevents them from escaping from the bottom. This method is capable of catching whole schools of fish, which rapidly depletes the population.

     These two methods combined with sport fishing in the Atlantic have caused a population loss of 70% over the last 30 years. The Atlantic bluefin tuna industry has decreased from a $10-20 million industry to just $1.7million industry. If a solution is not found soon this industry will collapse completely and the Atlantic bluefin tuna will become extinct.