The outcome of last week’s Council of Ministers was a bitter one for the French tuna fleet, and representative body Orthongel has criticised the decisions made, commenting that this is difficult to understand in light of the available scientific data.
As the Member States concerned failed to reach consensus, the Council Presidency finally accepted the European Commission’s proposal on Indian Ocean skipjack. This sets the 2026 quota at the level expected to be reached in 2028 (125,000 tonnes), with quota allocations among Member States made according to wjat Orthongel describes as ‘a complex and incomprehensible formula.’
The outcome is the allocation of 36,845 tonnes of skipjack tuna for the French fleet in 2026 (–5% compared to its average catches over the last three years), 3538 tonnes for Italy, and 84,616 tonnes for Spain (+7% compared to its recent average catches).
In April 2025, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) adopted Resolution 25/03, which provided for a gradual reduction in the total allowable catch (TAC) for skipjack tuna to reach a target of 125,000 tonnes in 2028. Within this framework, the European Union was to decide at the Council of Ministers on the allocation of the European skipjack quota for 2026 among the Member States concerned (Spain, France, Italy).
‘In April 2025, the IOTC adopted a resolution enacting an overall reduction in the TAC for skipjack tuna. In this context, it is difficult to understand why the efforts, which should be shared by all European fleets, are mainly borne by France,’ said Orthongel president Xavier Leduc.
‘In 2026, French catches will have to decrease by 5%, while those of the Spanish fleet will be able to increase by 7%. This imbalance is perceived as deeply unfair by the French industry, especially in light of the Spanish fleet’s catches over the last three years.’
In order to ensure a fair distribution consistent with the IOTC resolution, Orthongel advocated the use of the 2021-2022-2023 reference period for allocating the quota. This period is considered representative of the actual balance achieved by European fleets in recent years.
Orthongel’s representative stated that the sector appreciates the efforts of Minister for the Sea Catherine Chabaud for her commitment during the Council, as well as the teams at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture (DG AMPA) for their excellent preparatory work ahead of the negotiations and for their commitment.
