Yesterday the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery was closed, following the European Commission''s announcement on Friday to close the fishery two week early.
The Commission says that it is closing the fishery for purse seine fleets as the quotas will shortly be exhausted, based on data and information in the Commission's possession.
Purse seiners from Greece, France, Italy, Cyprus and Malta are prohibited from fishing as of 00.00 yesterday, and the ban will come into effect for Spain at 00.00 on 23 June.
The Commission says that the closure is "necessary to protect this fragile resource and ensure the recovery of the stock is in line with the 15 year recovery plan agreed by ICCAT."
The Commission is determined to use all necessary means to prevent a recurrence of the substantial overfishing seen in 2007.
To ensure that the closure is effective in preventing overfishing, the Regulation also prohibits EU operators from accepting landings, placing in cages for fattening or farming, and transhipments of bluefin tuna caught by purse seiners whatever flag they are flying (EU or third country) as of 00h00 16 June, with the exception of Spanish purse seiners which may continue to land, transfer and tranship until 00h00 23 June.
WWF has welcomed the move, but is urging policy makers for a more far-reaching management reform to prevent the species collapsing.
"WWF believes this out-of-control fishery should never have been allowed to open this year at all," said Aaron McLoughlin, head of the European marine programme at WWF International.
"Overfishing and massive illegal catches threaten the survival of bluefin tuna. Fishing should be banned indefinitely at least during June, the key spawning month for Mediterranean bluefin tuna," he said.
