Brussels, 30/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - At their meeting in Brussels on 7-8 May, EU fisheries ministers expect difficult negotiations on the bluefin tuna recovery plan in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. Member states are divided particularly over the date from which the plan should be implemented. The proposal puts last November's International Committee for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) decisions on bluefin tuna into Community law (see EUROPE 9375 on European Commission proposal).
Italy and France want the bluefin tuna recovery plan to come into force on 13 June (or even 13 August), while Spain and other countries (including those which do not catch this species) are calling for it to be implemented immediately, something that would have an effect on the already opened 2007 fishing season. Italy and France are opposed to any change of rules in the course of the season, in particular on minimum landing size. The new general rule raises the minimum landing size for bluefin tuna from 10 kg to 30 kg. An exemption allows (mainly Spanish) rod and line vessels to land tuna of 8 kg or more.
In December 2006, the Council set provisional 2007 European bluefin tuna quotas at levels 50% lower than in 2006. At the end of January 2007, ICCAT came to a more favourable agreement on sharing total allowable catches among its members (see EUROPE 9356). Under this international agreement, the European bluefin tuna quota was reduced by 8% from 18,301 tonnes (t) in 2006 to 16,779 t for 23007. The Commission is bringing pressure to bear on Italy and France to accept the recovery plan measures, including the new fishing possibilities ratified by ICCAT in January, from the month of May. Otherwise, the provisional quota set at 50% of 2006 catches could be reached before the end of May, and this would mean the Commission having to close the fishery.
The United Kingdom and Ireland, which have just been sanctioned for exceeding their herring and mackerel quotas have called for similar sanctions to be imposed on other fishermen (mainly French) who have exceeded their bluefin tuna quotas. France and Italy, however, with the support of the Commission, point to ICCAT decisions (which prevail over Community law) not to punish countries which have fished more than allowed. France accepts that it has exceeded its bluefin tuna quota, but believes it should not be the only country to be sanctioned, when other ICCAT members have fished well above their quotas but have not publicly admitted it. (lc)