Brussels, 23/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 23 June, the European Parliament approved the text of the compromise reached among the EU institutions on the multiannual plan for the recovery of bluefin tuna stocks in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
In adopting the report by Gabriel Mato (EPP, Spain), Parliament approved the text of the regulation transposing into EU law the various measures taken by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The objective of the regulation is to rebuild the Bluefin tuna biomass to a level corresponding to maximum sustainable yield by 2022, with at least a 60% probability of achieving this objective. The multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna was launched in 2007 and is due to continue until 2022.
The text states that each member state should take the necessary measures to ensure that the fishing effort of its catch vessels and its traps be proportionate with bluefin tuna fishing opportunities available to it in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
By 31 January at the latest of each year, each member state which has a bluefin tuna quota must submit to the Commission: - an annual fishing plan for catch vessels and traps fishing for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean; - an annual fishing capacity management plan ensuring that its fishing capacity is in line with its allocated quota. The Commission will send this plan to the Secretariat of ICCAT by 15 February of each year at the latest for examination and approval by ICCAT.
Countries will also have to submit an annual management plan for the farming and fattening of bluefin tuna. The regulation sets out the technical details: fishing seasons, minimum conservation reference size (30 kg or 115 cm in length but with derogations of 8 kg for longliners and trollers), non-target by-catches (maximum 5% of bluefin tuna) and by-catches.
The regulation bans the use of all aerial means, including aeroplanes, helicopters and any kind of unmanned aerial vehicles, for locating bluefin tuna. It states, lastly, that each member state which holds a bluefin tuna quota should regulate its sport and recreational fishing by allocating specific quotas for these fisheries and inform the Commission of them when submitting its fishing plan. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)