Although not all ambitions were met, the EU is very satisfied with the results and the progress of this organisation. 

The most remarkable results are: the decision to go with the EU proposals for a general framework for the development of harvest control rules and management strategy evaluation and for a specific harvest control rule for Northern Albacore. This will allow ICCAT to apply modern concepts of fisheries management. The adoption of a conservation measure for porbeagle marks the end of five years of efforts by the EU to protect this vulnerable shark species.

The EU also managed to get a comprehensive package of conservation and management measures adopted for bigeye tuna. It includes a reduction of the Total Allowable Catch as well as measures to reduce the mortality of juvenile bigeye tuna as recommended by scientific advice. 

Another important proposal adopted, and the welcome result of four years of efforts on the part of the EU, concerns the electronic catch documentation system for blue-fin tuna, which will have to be used as from 1 May 2016 and will undoubtedly become a key tool for the conservation of the species.

Following an EU proposal, the stock assessment for Mediterranean swordfish will be anticipated to 2016 so as to be able to work towards more efficient conservation measures next year. 

ICCAT also decided to launch a second performance review, which will allow this organisation to undertake a health check and to further improve its performance. 

There was also good progress on the Convention amendment, although a few issues will still have to be resolved for the next Annual Meeting. 

On a less positive side the EU very much regrets that ICCAT was not ready to move towards other meaningful measures proposed by the EU for the conservation of sharks, notably blue sharks, which risk remaining unmanaged until the next stock assessment takes place in 2018. 

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas is an intergovernmental fisheries management organisation responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas. As an ICCAT member, the EU is represented in the negotiations by the European Commission.

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ICCAT infographic