From 23rd to 27th May 2016, the 20th Annual Meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) was hosted by the European Union in La Réunion, France. Overall, the EU welcomes the outcome of the meeting, in particular the adoption of several EU proposals, such as a pilot project for a Regional Observer Scheme, the implementation of electronic Port State measures, an incentive scheme for better catch data reporting ('no-data no-fish' principle).

The Resumed Review Conference on the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (UNFSA) finished last Friday after one week of intensive negotiations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 23rd to 27th May.

Fish stocks in the Mediterranean are deteriorating at an alarming rate, threatening the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of fishermen.

The European Commission’s long-standing commitment towards the conservation of Bluefin tuna comes to the fore again for the main fishing season of 2016.