Driven by the demand from international market for Atlantic bluefin tuna（〖WTBX〗Thunnus thynnus〖WTBZ〗） and their products, overcapacity and illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing frequently took place, which resulted in continuous decline of the fish resources. Although relevant Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs), the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in this case, have adopted some conservation and management measures for this fish stock, the outcome is unsatisfied. To find an alternative solution, Monaco in 2009 proposed to include Atlantic bluefin tuna into Appendix Ⅰ of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), banning capture and trade. In 2010, this proposal was discussed heatedly in the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which had attracted wide concerns and provoked great controversy. Against this backdrop, this paper firstly analyzes the relevant ICCAT management measures on Atlantic bluefin tuna and the different opinions from relevant states or regional organizations over Monaco’s proposal. Secondly, the ramifications that this proposal might have for international fisheries management and for China’s distant water fishing industry are studied. Had the Atlantic bluefin tuna been included in the Appendix Ⅰ of CITES, a precedence would have been set for other commercially exploited aquatic resources. As a result, there will be more such proposals which would come up in the context of CITES. Then, the role of RFMOs in conservation and management of the world fisheries resources might have changed. Whatever would happen in the future, China, as a new high seas fishing State, should take an active role in both fora, namely CITES and RFMOs, involving herself into discussion over interpretation and formulation of some provisions on “introduction for the sea”, and promoting ICCAT to take more restrictive measures or persuade primary fishing states to reduce fishing quotas. On the other hand, being a party to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and ICCAT, China is also under obligation to cooperate with other countries in implementing conservation and management measures adopted by ICCAT and renew her domestic laws and regulations to control her nationals. This paper finally puts forward several suggestions in this aspect, such as renewing regulations with respect to the Vessels Monitoring Systems (VMS), scientific observers aboard, fishing log, etc. in order to make sure these measures complied with by fishing vessels completely and improving capacity building for management personnel at the central and provincial levels.