Brussels, 20/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - For the fourth consecutive year, the Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA) is coordinating the Joint Deployment Plan (JDP) for the bluefin tuna fishery in the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Atlantic waters for the 2011 season, from 15 May to 15 June. Under the JDP, member states pool their control and inspection means, both human and material, in order jointly to carry out control, inspection and surveillance of fishery activities at sea and on land.
The plan, bringing together the Commission, the member states and the Fisheries Control Agency, has the resources of the seven member states involved in the fishery - Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain - and an EU inspection vessel chartered by the CFCA, and covers all stages of the market chain. Inspection and surveillance at sea is carried out in both EU and international waters and affects EU and non-EU vessels.
In 2011, member states and the CFCA are mobilising 22 vessels and nine aerial patrols to ensure that the bluefin tuna recovery plan is adhered to. In all, 232 days of sea activity, 150 days of on-shore activity and 198 flying hours are scheduled during this 2011 season. In line with the recovery plan amended in November of last year, from the 2011 fishing season, controls will be toughened for transfer and caging operations. (L.C./transl.rt)