Opposition to tuna ban grows at UN meeting

DOHA, Qatar (AP) - Delegates at a U.N. conference on endangered species say there is growing opposition to a proposed ban on the export of Atlantic bluefin tuna.

The officials said Wednesday that several Arab countries have joined China's opposition to the ban, arguing it would hurt poor fishing nations and was not backed by sound science.

Australia, Peru and others have backed a weakened proposal at the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species that would regulate the trade but not ban it outright. Conservationists say that would not go far enough.

Monaco - the proposed ban's sponsor - says bluefin numbers have fallen by nearly 75 percent since 1957 and something must be done. Japan, which imports 80 percent of the tuna, says the issue should be handled regional bodies.