Luxembourg, 27/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The fisheries ministers of European Union member states managed, on Monday 27 October in Luxembourg, to reach a political agreement on the EU's position at the next meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), to be held in Marrakesh from 17 to 24 November. The aim is to ensure measures for the successful protection of bluefin tuna stocks after a disastrous 2008 harvest year, and to make up for any legal void.
At the ICCAT, the EU stresses the need to remedy problems relating to the overcapacities of fishing fleets catching bluefin tuna, and cages intended for fattening up fish. The mandate also stresses the importance of strengthening controls at every point in the chain (fishing, farming, marketing and distribution). Fisheries ministers also agree to strengthen provisions of the multiannual international plan for recovery of bluefin tuna stocks. In June this year, the European Commission prematurely closed bluefin fishing practised by seiners in the Mediterranean, a situation that the EU hopes to avoid in the future.
Pursuant to Article 300 paragraph 2 of the EC Treaty, the Community's position within regional fishing organisations (called upon to adopt decisions with legal impact) is decided by the Council enacting by qualified majority at a proposal from the European Commission. These provisions of the treaty have never been respected. The French EU Council Presidency has expressed the hope of making up for this shortcoming, pushing the EU to define its mandate for the next ICCAT meeting. In a press release published on Monday 27 October, Greenpeace calls on the Council to immediately close bluefin tuna fishing until France, Spain, Italy and the other countries of the Mediterranean Basin involved have put an end to all illegal practices and until stocks have been able to regenerate. (L.C./transl.jl)