Brussels, 18/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - Following the political agreement last month (EUROPE 9552), the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted without debate on Monday 17 December, the regulation transposing the bluefin tuna recovery plan into Community law. This was ratified in 2006 at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
The main measures introduced in the plan are as follows: member states will be obliged to submit an annual fisheries plan (for vessels over 24 metres fishing for bluefin tuna, mentioning their individual quota); technical measures (seasonal restrictions for large-scale pelagic longline vessels over 24 metres, purse line fishing, tuna bait boats and pelagic trawlers); ban on the use of aircraft or helicopters for searching for bluefin tuna; increase in the weight and minimum size for catches (to 30 kg or 115 cm, with possible derogations of 8 kg or 75 cm); regulation of recreational fishing (catch of a single bluefin tuna per boat trip, ban on marketing of bluefin except for charitable purposes; designation of ports for unloading bluefin; ban on handing over of catches, except for large-scale pelagic longliners fishing for tuna. (L.C.)