The 103rd session of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), which took place from 1 to 5 September in Quito, marked a major step forward for the sustainable management of tropical tuna stocks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, according to Europêche speaking on Tuesday 9 September.
For the first time since 2009, the fishing closure has been reduced from 72 to 64 days, reflecting the good health of skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye stocks.
Another notable advance mentioned by the organisation is the creation of the International Alliance for the Recovery of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) in the Eastern Pacific, signed by four major tuna associations (American Tunaboat Association, Association of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels, Association of Tuna Vessels of Ecuador and International Fisheries Foundation, Panama).
However, the EU’s proposal to extend observer coverage, aimed at bringing the practices of Asian fleets into line with those of Europe, has once again been blocked by China and Japan. These countries are also refusing to adopt the policy of banning shark fins, which has been applied by the European fleet for 13 years. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)