Why Bluefin Tuna Deserve the Same Conservation Attention as Dolphins
By: Emma Carlton
When it comes to marine conservation, dolphins have long captured our hearts. They’re intelligent, social, and undeniably charming. Public outcry over the killing of dolphins led to protective legislation like the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in 1972 and the creation of the “dolphin-safe” label on tuna cans, assuring consumers that their tuna purchase didn’t harm dolphins (Robbins et al., 2022). But there’s another creature in our oceans just as deserving of protection: the Bluefin Tuna. With only around 40,000 adult Bluefin Tuna left in the wild, we’re nearing a tipping point where they could disappear forever (Munchies, 2015).
While we’ve made strides in protecting dolphins, the same urgency isn’t always applied to fish species. Bluefin Tuna have been overfished to the point where over 96% of the original population is gone. This species, like dolphins, plays a critical role in the ocean ecosystem. Think of the ocean as a giant puzzle—if you take away too many pieces, the whole structure collapses. Without tuna, the ocean’s balance is in jeopardy, and it’s not just tuna that would suffer. Without tuna as a food source, sharks and other marine predators would face significant hardship, leading to a ripple effect throughout the ecosystem.
Why Tuna Conservation Matters for Sharks
In a healthy ocean, species like sharks rely on a diverse range of prey to thrive, and tuna are an essential part of this food web. Bluefin Tuna are fast, powerful swimmers that make up a significant portion of the diet for large sharks, helping to sustain their populations. Without Bluefin Tuna, sharks would lose a key food source, pushing them to hunt other species, which in turn affects the balance of the marine ecosystem. The health of shark populations depends on the presence of tuna, highlighting the interconnected nature of ocean life.
Understanding the Gap Between Tuna and Dolphin Conservation
When people see images of dolphins, they see beauty, intelligence, and a species that evokes empathy. But tuna are often viewed differently—as a commodity, rather than a living, breathing species with a role to play. Imagine seeing an image of a dolphin that’s been mutilated or caught in a net—it’s immediately upsetting. Yet when it comes to tuna, many people don’t have the same reaction. Tuna aren’t cute, they aren’t social like dolphins, and so they’re easier to ignore. But this doesn’t make their survival any less critical to the ocean’s health (Robbins et al., 2022).
While dolphin and whale conservationists often push for the complete elimination of hunting these mammals, fish conservationists are focused on finding sustainable harvesting methods, like setting quotas and advocating for the protection of breeding-age fish. This difference in approach reflects the cultural gap in how we view these animals.
Moving Toward a Balanced Future
Complete bans on tuna fishing aren’t feasible, given the economic reliance on the fishing industry. But there is hope in sustainable fishing practices. Organizations like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) are actively working to set sustainable fishing standards that protect tuna populations. By focusing on methods that prevent the overfishing of young, breeding-age tuna, we can ensure that future generations will have a stable population to thrive.
As Fumihiro Ogawa, a tuna industry advocate, points out, “We must protect tuna at the breeding age; otherwise, we are going to have a tough time in the future” (Munchies, 2015). Simple measures—such as restricting the capture of young tuna before they reproduce—could have a profound impact on the species’ survival.
A Call for Equal Conservation Efforts
It’s time to extend our compassion and conservation efforts beyond the charismatic creatures and embrace a more holistic view of marine life. Dolphins have been granted rights and protections because we connect with them emotionally. Bluefin Tuna, while less “charismatic,” are equally deserving of consideration. Without them, our oceans and the creatures that depend on them, including sharks, will suffer.
Imagine an ocean where every species, from the graceful dolphin to the powerful Bluefin Tuna, is given the chance to thrive. By viewing our oceans not as a resource to be harvested endlessly, but as a shared ecosystem full of interconnected lives, we can create a future where all creatures are valued. Our mission shouldn’t just be to protect the species we find beautiful or intelligent, but to respect the entire web of ocean life.
Every action counts. By choosing sustainably-sourced tuna and supporting conservation efforts, we can help ensure that tuna, sharks, and countless other species continue to thrive in our oceans. Let’s work together to preserve the balance of marine life—for the sake of the tuna, the sharks, and the entire ocean ecosystem.
Resources:
Robbins, P., Hintz, J. G., & Moore, S. A. (2022). Environment and Society (3rd Edition). Wiley Global Research (STMS). https://online.vitalsource.com/books/9781119408246
Munchies. (2015, May 18). Appetite for destruction: Eating Bluefin Tuna into extinction [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hivvTo6VSS8
Photo: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/bluefin-tuna
