MEPs have backed new international measures to reduce illegal catches of bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, in a vote last week aimed at ensuring more sustainable development of stocks.
They also called for more advice on the identification of spawning grounds and the creation of sanctuaries.
The new rules were agreed at the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) in November 2010.
"The new rules must be implemented quickly now that the bluefin fishing season has just opened. While taking a step in the right direction, I regret that the rules fall far short of following scientific advice. This is a missed opportunity to bring bluefin back from the brink", said Raül Romeva i Rueda (Greens/EFA, ES) who steered the new legislation through Parliament.
The new recovery plan for bluefin tuna will mean that the transfer from nets to cages will be video recorded, and if the number/weight is found to be more than 10% greater than declared by the farm operator responsible for fattening the fish, the excess fish will have to be released.
For 2012, purse seiners of less than 20m will need to be covered by national observers, and for purse seiners larger than this, an ICCAT regional observer will be engaged.
Member states targeting bluefin tuna will have until the beginning of 2013 to bring their fishing fleets into line with the quota allocated to them, and the fishing season for purse seiners will be cut from two months to one, running from 15 May-15 June.
The new recovery plan also reduces the international total allowable catches (TACs) of bluefin tuna from 13,500t to 12,900t. Accordingly, the TACs allocated to the EU were reduced from 7,113.15t in 2010 to 5,756.41t. This restriction already entered into force in 2011.
The new rules were approved by 635 votes to 16, with 11 abstentions. The regulation will enter into force once it has been endorsed by the Council.
