The 29th ICCAT meeting which ended earlier this week was dominated by bluefin tuna, while other tropical tuna issues remained either undecided or unaddressed.
The decision to set a 48,403-tonne bluefin quota, a 20% increase, is seen by Europêche as demonstrating ICCAT’s capacity for consensus – although the organisation also allowed new entrants Mauritania, Namibia, Panama and Senegal to participate in the fishery.
‘The bluefin tuna TAC increase gives less additional quota than expected to European fishers, which have made tremendous efforts. Also, we cannot ignore the trade-offs: the EU has reduced its share to accommodate new claims, creating uncertainty in a fishery made up of a wide and diverse fleet, and creating a worrying precedent,’ said Europêche president Javier Garat, describing this as a mixed outcome for European fishermen.
‘We are especially concerned about Senegal’s new allocation, given the serious compliance issues raised this year regarding its management of tropical tuna quotas.’
While ICCAT successfully adopted management procedures, with long-term harvest strategies, for North Atlantic swordfish and for western Atlantic skipjack tuna, many of the industry’s expectations relating to the tropical tuna industry were frustrated.
Javier Garat commented that European tuna fleets have long invested in the Atlantic fishery with a long-term vision, and sustainable management is necessary.
‘Maintaining viable companies operating to the highest social, control and environmental standards, like the European ones, is vital,’ he said, commenting that concrete decisions on allocating the yellowfin TAC to prevent quota overshoots, increasing the bigeye TAC in line with SCRS advice, relieving fleets that have sacrificed heavily to rebuild the stock, and lifting the Fish Aggregating Device (FAD)-closure which disproportionately affects purse seiners, could have significantly strengthened that path. But agreement on none of these issues was reached.
‘Unfortunately, none of the pressing issues, including an allocation for yellowfin tuna and the elimination of the FAD moratorium, resulted in an agreement this year, leaving our European responsible fisheries more vulnerable,’ stated Europêche Tuna Group president Xavier Leduc.
‘We urge ICCAT Parties to use the intersessional period to find balanced, science-based solutions that protect the fishery, the companies that depend on it, and the people whose livelihood is at stake. Behind our fishing companies stand men and women, fishers and onshore teams, port workers, shipyard staff and cannery employees, whose livelihoods depend on ICCAT’s decisions.’
ICCAT adopted a resolution establishing a record of vessels over 20 metres. According to Anne-France Mattlet, director Europêche Tuna Group, this register does not allow for determining the actual fishing capacity in the region, which is essential to implement effective management measures.
‘Without crucial data on fish hold capacity in cubic metres, as recommended by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation and applied in the Eastern Pacific, ICCAT cannot know the true capacity of the fleet. Understanding vessel capacity is essential to ensure adequate and sustainable management,’ she said.
According to Europêche, compliance procedures also remain weak as the current system struggles to track non-compliance effectively. There is no clear summary document, no follow-up mechanism, and no automated process to address violations. While the European Union’s proposal to streamline reporting and follow-up has been adopted, much work remains before ICCAT can ensure robust enforcement.
Sharks and BBNJ
No consensus was reached on the many proposals aimed at improving shark management or reinforcing the fight against shark finning. The European fleet has applied the fins-naturally-attached policy for years and continues to call for a level playing field across the Atlantic.
‘Do you want ICCAT to deal with sharks?’ asked ICCAT chair Ernesto Peñas, underscoring the need for the organisation to demonstrate leadership to avoid being overshadowed by bodies such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). ICCAT has progressed for certain shark species, such as blue sharks, and need to keep this approach.
Although progress is limited in certain areas, ICCAT has in previous years proven its efficiency in sustainably managing Atlantic tuna fisheries. The organisation is determined to build on these achievements and to safeguard its mandate, particularly in the context of the newly ratified BBNJ Agreement, a commitment reaffirmed in a new resolution.
‘ICCAT and other RFMOs bring decades of scientific expertise to sustainably manage high seas fisheries,’ said Jérome Jourdain, a member of the Europêche delegation in ICCAT.
‘Future measures under BBNJ must fully respect RFMO mandates. Otherwise we risk undoing decades of management and threatening fisheries’ vital contribution to global food security, recognised by the United Nations under the BBNJ Agreement.’
