Brussels, 11/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - In Luxembourg on 11 June, EU fisheries ministers adopted the regulation on the implementation, from 13 June, of the recovery plan to rebuild bluefin tuna stocks in the Mediterranean and the Eastern Atlantic. Ireland and the United Kingdom voted against. The programme is in line with the decisions taken in November 2006 by the members of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). Approval of the text comes only after difficult negotiations among member states and a European Commission threat to close the fishery, with provisional quotas having been fished (see EUROPE 9439).
France and Italy have long played for time, while Spain and the northern countries (which do not fish this species) called for the swift adoption of international measures. By way of a compromise, to avoid a crisis, France and Italy have been allowed to delay until 30 June the requirement on their tuna fishers to observe the new minimum landing and market sizes of 30 kg or 115 cm for bluefin tuna. Exemptions have been granted to (Spanish) rod-and-line tuna vessels and pelagic trawlers, which will be able to market fish of 8 kg or 75 cm. This same minimum sizes will also apply to bluefin tuna caught in the Adriatic Sea for farming purposes.
2007 quotas: the EU's provisional bluefin tuna quota (9,400 tonnes) has been replaced by the definitive quota of 16,780 tonnes (t) (5,568t for Spain, 5,493t for France and 4,336t for Italy). The EU 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) is 8% less than the 2006 TAC.
Control measures: by 14 June at the latest, every member state must submit to the Commission a list of all fishing vessels flying its flag authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean or in the Mediterranean. These data will be sent to ICCAT for entry in its register. Vessels not in the ICCAT register will not be allowed to fish for bluefin tuna. ICCAT has developed a common international inspection scheme which member states will have to respect.
Transhipment of bluefin tuna at sea is not allowed, except for large-scale tuna longline vessels. In addition, before entering a port, the master of the vessel will be required to provide detailed information (time of arrival, quantity of bluefin tuna on board, etc) to the port authorities of the appropriate member state. The competent authority of the member state in whose port the transhipment is to take place will inspect the vessel on its arrival and will check its cargo and documentation.
Observers: every member state will have to ensure that observers are present on at least 20% of its fishing vessels of over 15 metres. The observer will monitor the vessel, check that the log book is being kept accurately (data on catches) and spot vessels using illegal fishing practices.
Closed fishing season: fishing for bluefin tuna by large-scale pelagic longline vessels will be prohibited in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean between 1 June and 31 December 2007; purse seine fishing for bluefin tuna will not be allowed between 1 July and 31 December 2007; bluefin tuna fishing by bait boats will be prohibited between 15 November 2007 and 15 May 2008; pelagic trawlers will also be banned from bluefin tuna fishing from 15 November 2007 to 15 May 2008.
Recreational fisheries: recreational fishers will not be able to catch and land more than one bluefin tuna per sea trip. The marketing of bluefin tuna caught in recreational fishing will not be permitted, except for charitable purposes. Member states will be required to send catch data from this type of fishing to the Commission.
Sport fisheries: each member state will be required to regulate sport fishing, notably through fishing authorisations. Bluefin tuna caught in sport fishing competitions will not be permitted, except for charitable purposes.
Planes: the use of aeroplanes or helicopters to locate shoals of tuna is now outlawed. (lc)