Brussels, 04/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - With the meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) fast approaching, the EU is busy fine-tuning its position on the most sensitive issue, the level of blue-fin tuna fishing for next year.
The European Commission is still finalising its proposed mandate on the position that the EU is to defend at the ICCAT, scheduled to be held in Paris from 17 to 27 November. It is expected to present its proposal to the delegations during the 12 November meeting of Coreper (committee of EU permanent representatives with the EU). The aim is for the EU's stance to be endorsed during a forthcoming EU Council of Ministers (there being an Ecofin Council on 17 November also).
As European Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki had told European ministers on 26 October (see EUROPE 10244), she continues to recommend a substantial lowering of total allowable catches (TACs) for blue-fin tuna in 2011. The TAC currently stands at 13,500 tonnes for all ICCAT members. The Commission admits having cited a TAC of 6,000 tonnes, saying however that this is just an example, not a position. It is in the Commission's interest to show flexibility, as all countries that fish blue-fin tuna - including France, Italy, Spain and Greece - have categorically refused to lower the TAC, even calling for the current TAC volume to be maintained in 2011.
Furthermore, the Commission considers it necessary to continue the effort to eliminate over-fishing and to envisage a number of technical measures (minimum size for fish offloaded, fishing season, etc). The other ICCAT subjects cover sword fish (a management plan being contemplated) and a number of sharks.
Janez Potocnik, European Environment Commissioner, said on Wednesday 3 November that the EU should take into account the commitments of the Nagoya conference on biodiversity at the next ICCAT meeting. The number six objective of the Nagoya agreement provides for all fish stocks to be exploited sustainably by 2020 in order to avoid overfishing and for fish species to come within safe, biological limits between now and then, he said. (L.C./transl.jl)