Brussels, 20/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 17 June, the European Commission adopted a proposal aiming at transposing into EU law the conservation, control and enforcement measures adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to which the European Union is a Contracting Party.
ICCAT is the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) responsible for the management of species covered by ICCAT in the Atlantic Ocean and adjoining seas. ICCAT adopts new conservation, control and enforcement measures every year. This transposition proposal relates to the measures adopted by ICCAT since 2008, with the exception of the multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, which is subject to a separate transposition process.
The proposal contains ICCAT management measures divided into seven chapters, each covering a separate species. Chapter 1 covers tropical tunas, Chapter 2 to North Atlantic albacore; Chapter 3 to swordfish (Atlantic swordfish as well as Mediterranean swordfish); Chapter 4 to blue marlin and white marlin; Chapter 5 to sharks; Chapter 6 to sea-birds (caught as by-catch) and Chapter 7 to turtles (caught as by-catch).
The regulation also includes common inspection and monitoring measures; - provisions on chartering; - control of catches (notably compliance with quotas and minimum size requirements); - catch sampling and catch and fishing effort notification. Chapter 4 and 5 set provisions on transhipment and on scientific observer programmes respectively. Chapter 6 lays down provisions for reporting obligations with regard to designated ports and points of contact and with regard to port inspections. Chapter 7 deals with enforcement and specifically with alleged infringements and non-compliances and ICCAT draft blacklist of non-compliant vessels.
Bluefin tuna. Last April, the three EU institutions reached agreement on transposition rules for the multiannual plans to restore bluefin tuna stocks in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean (see EUROPE 11527). The EP is expected to endorse the compromise in plenary in Brussels on 23 June by adopting a report by Gabriel Mato (EPP, Spain) on the multiannual plan to restore bluefin tune stocks. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)