Positive results include steps to accelerate the alignment of the regulation of these fisheries throughout the world on those standards which constitute current best practice. However, the Commission said that it regrets the fact that the representatives of contracting parties to the five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) concerned proved unable to reach consensus on immediate action to freeze the capacity of the global tuna fleet.
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Joe Borg commented, "The Kobe process has allowed for real progress to be made. I am glad that the international community has recognised the value of this tool which allows us both to establish best-practice in managing the world's tuna stocks, and to measure RFMOs' progress towards that gold standard. But I am disappointed that differences in positions between the parties made it impossible to agree on the global capacity freeze proposed by the EU. It is vital that we find a way to bridge the gap between the developing states and other partners, so that effective action on this issue can be taken as soon as possible."
The meeting in San Sebastian, dubbed 'Kobe 2', has no formal legal status, but adopted instead a number of recommendations to the RFMOs involved, thus reinforcing the Course of Action agreed at the first Kobe meeting in Japan in 2007. Actions recommended for immediate implementation include protection of the most vulnerable shark stocks, harmonising procedures for scientific research and advice across the different regions, and the adoption of best-practice on compliance. Four working groups have also been set up, to maintain the momentum over the next two years until the Kobe 3 meeting. These will cover the issues of: by-catch in tuna fisheries; monitoring, control and surveillance; science; and tuna fleet capacity.
Greenpeace, however, has issued a statement saying that the countries involved in the meeting "failed once again to take any action to solve the threats facing the world’s favourite fish".
The organisation says that it was disappointed to see that "the only real outcome of the meeting was an agreement that the RFMOs convene four workshops in one year's time".
"It’s been yet another week of inaction,” said Lagi Toribau, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Oceans Campaigner. “The RFMOs acknowledge that tuna stocks are in deep trouble. They acknowledge that there are simply too many fishing vessels operating around the world. They acknowledge that the tuna fisheries are laying waste to a large amount of other marine life, such as turtles, sharks and seabirds, because of the wasteful fishing techniques, like purse seining and fish aggregation devices. Yet not a single agreement has been made to start addressing any of these issues.”
"Unless the issue of how the benefits from global tuna fisheries are equitably shared among all countries is adequately addressed, there will not be a solution to the global tuna fisheries’ problems," added Mr Toribau. “A strong reduction of the global tuna fleet and a swift move towards domestic fisheries, using selective fishing techniques, is the only way forward. Pole-and-line fisheries, for example, provide a much more equitable and sustainable option.”
Greenpeace is calling on retailers and markets to stop the sale of species that are being overfished – such as bluefin, bigeye and yellow fin tuna - until fishing is reduced to sustainable long-term levels. Greenpeace is also calling on markets to reject tuna that is caught by wasteful fishing techniques and to source tuna from coastal state owned and operated selective fleets.
However, the Shark Alliance has congratulated delegates on agreeing on the need to take immediate action for sharks. "We are pleased that governments from around the world have at last clearly acknowledged the pressing need for shark conservation measures on the high seas," said Sonja Fordham, Policy Director for the Shark Alliance. "We underscore their agreement that improved enforcement of finning bans, protection for particularly depleted shark species, and concrete shark fishing controls in line with scientific advice and the precautionary approach deserves immediate attention."
Specifically, delegates agreed to call on RFMOs to establish precautionary, science-based conservation and management measures for sharks, including, as appropriate:
• Measures to improve the enforcement of existing finning bans
• Prohibitions on retention of particularly vulnerable or depleted shark species, based on advice from scientists and experts
• Concrete management measures in line with scientific advice with priority given to overfished populations
• Precautionary fishing controls on a provisional basis for shark species for which there is no scientific advice
• Measures to improve the provision of data on sharks in all fisheries and by all gears
The next Kobe meeting will be held in 2011.
