Brussels, 07/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission said on Tuesday 7 February that it was generally satisfied with the outcome of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) Third Preparatory Conference, which has just ended in Santiago, Chile. Discussion focused principally on renewal of the interim measures for the jack mackerel stock for 2012. Agreement was reached, limiting catches to 40% of the amount set for the 2010 total allowable catch (TAC). The EU quota was set at 27,000 tonnes for 2012, a sharp reduction from 135,000 tonnes in 2010. However, the Commission has expressed its concern at Peru's lack of cooperation. Peru unilaterally set a jack mackerel quota for its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which does not comply with the scientific advice and could undermine general efforts on the part of all other participants in the fishery for the conservation and management of the stock. The SPRFMO Convention is expected to come into force before the end of 2012, which should allow the SPRFMO to start working properly at the beginning of 2013. At the moment, all decisions are taken on a voluntary basis. (LC/transl.rt)