Yesterday, the news headline "Bluefin tuna trade ban blocked" [ABC, 19th March 2010], attracted my attention.
This article explains the background of the decision of delegates at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
This would make a great WebQuest as there are various antagonistic views and it is an authentic, real world issue.
The perspectives are
1. Conservationists who wanted the ban on the Atlantic bluefin tuna trade because of a massive decline in their numbers due to overfishing;
2. Japanese lobbists who apparently wined and dined delegates to say no to the banning.
3. European Commission who are concerned about the species becoming extinct.
4. Greenpeace who condemned Australia (although Australia voted YES to the ban) and other countries for their failure to stop the export.
It could also incorporate the fate of the Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT)
The map below shows the SBT's fishing areas.
The big question could be: Should the fate of the Alantic Bluefin Tuna be left to politicians?"
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