Commission proposes adoption of ICCAT recovery measures for bluefin tuna

The measures agreed came from recommendations by scientists to ensure the recovery of the overfished east-Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna. Poor application of the rules is seen as the main contributor to overfishing of this stock. One of the most significant measures, therefore, relates to the setting up of a joint international inspection scheme. The Commission also proposes the Member States quotas, following the decision by ICCAT at a meeting in Tokyo from 29 to 31 January on the overall quota for this stock.

At a meeting in Tokyo last month, ICCAT members agreed on an allocation of the TAC for Eastern bluefin tuna which granted the EU a quota of 16,779.55 tonnes for 2007. As a result of this decision, it is now necessary to revise the provisional quota included in the 2007 TACs and quotas regulation, as well as the conditions associated with it. This is to ensure that they apply to the 2007 fishing year. The measures include those contained in the 15-year recovery plan adopted by ICCAT last November. The Commission will shortly propose a Council Regulation to implement these multi-annual measures on a permanent basis.

The 15-year recovery plan will be continuously reviewed to ensure its effectiveness in the light of scientific advice. The first such review will take place in 2008, followed by further reviews every two years thereafter. The main measures, many of which are being introduced for the first time, include:

• A gradual reduction in the total allowable catch from 32,000 tonnes in 2006 to 25,500 tonnes in 2010.

• The application of a joint international inspection scheme which, for the very first time, will allow for inspections by one contracting party of any contracting party's vessel on the high seas.

• An important extension of the closed seasons when bluefin tuna fisheries are prohibited:

- for large-scale pelagic longline vessels over 24 metres: from 1 June to 31 December;

- for purse seine fishing: 1 July to 31 December;

- for bait boats: from 15 November to 15 May;

- for pelagic trawlers from 15 November to 15 May.

• A substantial increase in the authorised minimum landing sizes from 10 to 30Kg.

• A global control system which covers every step of the process, from the catch to the market through to landing, transhipping and caging operations.

• The registration of all vessels fishing for bluefin tuna as well as of all traps, thus allowing for a clear picture of the fishing capacity.

• An extension of the ban on the use of aircraft to spot aggregations of bluefin tuna from one month (June) to all year.

• A ban on transhipment of bluefin tuna at sea for the purse seiners. In addition, all landings of bluefin tuna or transfers to cages will be subject to prior notification and strict control measures.

• An observer scheme for both fishing vessels and tuna farms;

• A prohibition on all marketing of and trade in bluefin tuna and related products which are not accompanied by the necessary documents to guarantee their origin, were not caught by authorised vessels, or do not in some other way comply with the provisions of the management plan;

• Recreational fisheries will now be regulated, allowing for only one bluefin tuna per fishing trip.

The EU quota of 16,779.55 tonnes includes 154.68 tonnes for Cyprus and 355.59 tonnes for Malta, which were not yet members of the EU at the time the last ICCAT management plan was drawn up (2002).

Details of the quotas for all the Member States which are active in this fishery can be found at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/257&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN