Brussels, 04/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - On 27 April, the European Commission adopted a proposal transposing into Union law the measures of the multi-annual bluefin tuna recovery plan in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. These measures were adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) at its annual meetings between 2012 and 2014.
ICCAT is the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjoining seas, to which the Union is a contracting party. The multi-annual recovery plan for bluefin tuna was established in 2006 and entered into force in 2007.
The proposal brings together all the measures of the recovery plan adopted between 2012 and 2014 in a single regulation on the multi-annual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, in order to ensure effective and uniform application throughout the EU.
The proposal contains technical measures such as those on transfer and caging operations for live bluefin tuna, including measures on the use of stereoscopic cameras to estimate the quantities of bluefin tuna and releases, catch reporting requirements and the implementation of the ICCAT Regional Observer Programme.
Article 15, paragraph 1, of Regulation 1380/2013 introduced a landing obligation which will apply to bluefin tuna from 1 January 2015. However, under article 15, paragraph 2 of the same regulation, the landing obligation is without prejudice to the Union's international obligations, such as those resulting from ICCAT recommendations. Under that same provision, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts for the purpose of transposing these international obligations into Union law, including, in particular, derogations from the landing obligation. Accordingly, discards of bluefin tuna will be authorised in some situations laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation 2015/98 of 18 November 2014 and are not directly covered by this proposal.
Fishing campaigns. Bluefin tuna fishing by large-scale pelagic long-line catching vessels over 24 metres will be authorised in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean during the period from 1 January to 31 May, with the exception of a delimited area, where this fishery will be authorised from 1 August to 31 January. Purse seine fishing for bluefin tuna is authorised between 26 May and 24 June. Bluefin tuna fishing by pelagic trawlers is authorised in the eastern Atlantic during the period between 16 June and 14 October. Recreational and sport fishing for bluefin tuna is authorised in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean from 16 June to 14 October. Under the proposed regulation, each member state will manage recreational and sport fishing by allocating a specific quote for this type of fishery, notifying the Commission of this when submitting their fishery plans. (Lionel Changeur)