Several EU Fisheries Ministers called on the European Commission to defend an increase in the total allowable catch (TAC) for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea on Monday 17 October in Luxembourg.
Notably Spain, Greece and Cyprus have reportedly called for an increase in quotas for this species, whose stock is doing well.
EU Ministers gave guidance to the Commission in order to define the EU position at the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which will be held from 14 to 21 November in Portugal.
The agenda for this year’s annual meeting includes a number of important issues, including the bluefin tuna management evaluation strategy, control measures on Eastern bluefin tuna and setting fishing opportunities for tropical tunas, Mediterranean albacore and South Atlantic swordfish.
The EU Council will continue its work at technical level with the aim of approving the EU position before the ICCAT meeting.
The total bluefin tuna TAC for 2022 remains at 36,000 tonnes while the TAC for 2023 is to be decided at this annual ICCAT meeting. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)