Blue Fin Tuna

I have been thinking this morning of the Outer Banks and other fragile ecosytems. Sadly we often are the ones that contribute to the demise of some of these special areas. Even though tourism is a major industry, there is a downside of tourism with its population increase and the impact of man on this environment. My thoughts also go to Sylvia Earle and her lifelong quest in protecting the marine environment.

I remember when I was younger it never occurred to me that fish would be endangered. Take the case of the Blue Fin Tuna. Highly prized as a sports fish and one of the most valued food fish in the ocean, the blue fin tuna is dangerously close to extinction.

Why is the blue fin on the verge of extinction? Overfishing is the culprit. As mentioned previously, it is a premium target for the recreational fishing enthusiast and the meat is cherished so much that folks pay an amazing amount of money for one fish.

Yesterday, two sushi bar owners paid more than $100,000 for a Japanese bluefin tuna at a Tokyo fish auction, several times the average price and the highest in nearly a decade.

The 282-pound premium tuna caught off the northern coast of Oma fetched $104,700, the highest since 2001.

The extravagant purchase — about $370 per pound — went to a Hong Kong sushi bar owner and his Japanese competitor who reached a peaceful settlement to share the big fish. The Hong Kong buyer also paid the highest price at last year's new year event at Tokyo's Tsukiji market, the world's largest fish seller, which holds near-daily auctions.