The U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Flora and Fauna recently began talks in Qatar to discuss restricting the trade of products from endangered species. The primary focus of the talks is the trade of ivory and bluefin tuna. The 12-day U.N. meeting will discuss an estimated 40 proposals, according to The New York Times, favoring different wildlife preservation methods. The bluefin tuna, whose population has dropped by at least 80 percent across the Atlantic, is at the fore of several oceanic species discussed.

“As you are seeing the impact of industrial fishing for the past 50 or 60 years, marine species have finally started to get some attention,” said director of global shark conservation for the Pew Charitable Trusts, Matthew Rand, in a New York Times report.

While there are already restrictions on the catching and sale of bluefin tuna, some countries in the European Union (EU) such as Spain, France, and Italy have large tuna fleets and might not be enforcing restrictions as strictly as necessary.

Washington’s Assistant Secretary of the Interior for fish, wildlife and parks, Thomas L. Strickland, has taken the helm as America’s representative in these talks. He has spoken on the importance of protecting the tuna.

“The bluefin tuna is in a catastrophic decline,” Strickland told The New York Times. “It is imperative that we take strong steps to protect that iconic fish.”

Japan, on the other hand, has taken less kindly to the possibility of a ban on the sale of bluefin tuna. Japan consumes over half of the world catch of bluefin tuna and a single fish there can sell for up to $100,000. Thus, Japan’s decision to disregard a ban, if passed, would not be surprising.

The other major subject discussed during the talks is about the trade of ivory. The sale of ivory was banned at a similar convention in 1989. Despite this, however, countries like China, Japan, and Thailand continue to import ivory products, and poachers have killed off 8 to 10 percent of the remaining population annually since the ban was put in place.

Controversies have arisen over the ban of ivory sales. Ghana, Congo, Kenya, Mali, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have moved to extend ivory ban to 2027. Tanzania and Zambia, meanwhile, have moved to lift the ban.

According to biologist Samuel K. Walker of the University of Washington, DNA studies show that most illegal trafficking of ivory goes through Zambia and Tanzania.

Pat Awori, who founded the Kenya Elephant Forum, reported to The Times that the last elephant in Sierra Leone died in 2009. Awori is in favor of the ban on ivory sales and has said she will support the ban on bluefin tuna if the moratorium on ivory sales is extended.

“If we don’t extend the ban to be able to study the impact of these limited sales, there may be no elephants left to protect,” said Awori.

These talks will determine the fate of many endangered species.