Brussels, 05/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 5 June, EU member states reached agreement in the Coreper (Committee of Member States' Permanent Representatives to the EU) on bluefin tuna recovery measures in the East Atlantic and the Mediterranean in 2007. The compromise still has to be formally approved by European fisheries ministers at their next meeting on 11 June.
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) decisions on bluefin tuna will come into force in the EU from 13 June. However, those countries which wish (France and Italy) will be able to delay the implementation of the most controversial measures on increasing the minimum landing weight from 10 to 30kg until 30 June at the latest. The regulation on recovery measures also contains the definitive total allowable catch (TAC) for bluefin tuna for 2007: 16,779 tonnes for all Community vessels, a total far higher than the provisional quotas (of a little under 9,400 tonnes) decided on by the Council in December. The definitive 2007 European TAC will be shared as follows: 5,568 tones (t) for Spain, 5,493t for France, 4,336t for Italy, 523.8t for Portugal, 355.6t for Malta, 287.2t for Greece and 154.7t for Cyprus. This quota extension could cause the Commission not to close the bluefin tuna fishery on Wednesday 6 June. Even though provisional quotas may have been fished, the adoption of the definitive quota will allow the problem to be solved.
The recovery plan extends the periods during which fishing for bluefin tuna is banned. From 2007 the fishery will be closed: - from 1 June to 31 December for vessels of over 24 metres using longlines; - from 1 July to 31 December for purse seine netters; - from 15 November to 15 May for tuna vessels using live bait and also for pelagic trawlers. (lc)