Brussels, 27/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - As the main 2013 bluefin tuna fishing season gets under way in the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic, the European Commission reaffirmed, on 27 May, its determination to fully apply the reinforced multiannual stock recovery plan adopted for this species last November by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) (see EUROPE 10734). The fishing season began on 26 May and ends on 24 June. During this period large purse seiners are allowed to fish for bluefin tuna. Together with fish traps, the quotas for purse seiners account for 83% of the overall 2013 EU quota of 7,548.1 tonnes. Vessels from seven EU member states are active in this kind of fishing (Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Malta and Cyprus). (OL/transl.fl)