日本鰻魚有滅絶危險

A few weeks ago the NHK News on-line reported the following:

ニホンウナギ 絶滅危惧種に指定

6月12日 9時05分

世界の野生生物の専門家などで作るＩＵＣＮ＝国際自然保護連合は１２日、ニホンウナギについて、近い将来、絶滅する危険性が高いとして絶滅危惧種に指定し、レッドリストに掲載しました。
これにより今後、ニホンウナギの保護を求める国際的な世論が高まることも予想されます。

スイスに本部があるＩＵＣＮでは、専門家のグループが、世界のさまざまな野生生物について絶滅のリスクなどを評価し、「すでに絶滅」から「情報不足」までの８段階に分類したレッドリストを毎年数回、改定し発表してきました。
生息数が激減しているニホンウナギについても、去年７月から検討を進めてきましたが、１２日発表されたレッドリストの最新版では、ニホンウナギは絶滅のリスクが上から４番目に当たる「近い将来、野生での絶滅の危険性が高い」絶滅危惧種として分類されました。
ニホンウナギが絶滅危惧種として指定された理由として、ＩＵＣＮでは、生息地の減少や水質の悪化、海流の変化、それに乱獲などを挙げています。
レッドリストに法的な拘束力はないものの、絶滅危惧種のリストとしては世界で最も権威のあるものとされるため、ニホンウナギが掲載されたことで、今後、国際的な取り引きの規制など保護を求める世論が高まる可能性もあります。
今回、ウナギの評価に当たった作業部のゴロック議長はコメントを発表し、「ニホンウナギの状況は大きな懸念だが、生息数などの情報を集めて評価が行われたこと自体は大きな前進だ。今後は、この情報を活用して保護へ向けた取り組みを進めることが可能になる」と述べています。

(試譯文)

On the 12th (June) the IUCN : International Union for Conservation of Nature formed by wildlife specialists in the world specified Japanese eel as an endangered species noting that it had high danger of extermination in the near future; it was published in the Red List.

It was also expected that from now on international public opinions asking for the protection of Japanese eel would increase because of this.

In the IUCN which had its headquarters in Switzerland, the risk of extinction etc. for various wildlife in the world were evaluated, and the specialist's group updated the Red List which classify them into eight stages: from "already being exterminated" to "insufficient information", and announced the list several times a year.

While examination had proceeded from July last year and the number of habitat for the Japanese eel was decreasing sharply, according to the latest version of the Red List announced on the 12^th, the Japanese eel was classified as endangered species that had a "high" risk of extinction in the wilderness in the near future, with the risk of extinction hitting the 4th from a top.

The reasons for the Japanese eel being specified as endangered species as mentioned by IUCN were: reduction in habitat, aggravation of water quality, change of ocean currents, and also over hunting etc.

Although there was no legal binding force in the Red List, it was the most authoritative list on endangered species in the world. As the Japanese eel was on the list, public opinion asking for its protection, such as to regulate international dealings, from now on might increase.

This time, chairman Gorokku of the task force in charge of evaluating the eel announced a comment that "while the situation of Japanese eel is a huge concern, there is a big improvement in it: in collecting information used for performing evaluation, for example information on the number of habitat. From now on, by utilizing these information, it becomes possible to advance measures aiming at protection".

     The aggravation of water quality and change of ocean currents etc. are common factors that affect marine lives. So, the supply of Japanese eel will decrease gradually.