~101
Kb), so as to include the recovery plan for bluefin tuna recommended
by the International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
last November (see press
release). 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.
Commenting on this proposal, Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, said: "The adoption of this proposal so soon after the Tokyo meeting further demonstrates the EU's determination to meet its international commitment by taking the necessary measures to help restore the Eastern bluefin tuna fishery to long-term sustainability."
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 in the table below.
MEMBER STATE |
QUOTA ALLOCATED
(tonnes) |
| Cyprus | 154.68 |
| France | 5493.65 |
| Greece | 287.23 |
| Italy | 4336.31 |
| Malta | 355.59 |
| Portugal | 523.88 |
| Spain | 5568.21 |
| Others | 60 |
| EC | 16,779.55 |
| Overall ICCAT TAC | 29,500 |
See also: MEMO/07/85 Questions and Answers on bluefin tuna
The proposal was adopted by Council
Regulation (EC) No 643/2007 of 11 June 2007 amending Regulation
(EC) No 41/2007 as concerns the recovery plan for bluefin
tuna recommended by the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (~129
Kb)