Brussels, 28/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is expected very shortly to adopt a proposal setting up a programme to document bluefin tuna catches, one of the recommendations from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), endorsed at the end of November 2008, which has to be incorporated into Community law. The aim of the catch document is to improve the quality and reliability of statistical data, at, thus, to “prevent, discourage and eradicate” illegal fishing, the Commission says in the preamble to the proposal.
The new programme documenting catches will make it easier to monitor all the sections of the bluefin tuna fishery sector. The current statistical documentation programme (regulation 1984/2003) relates only to imports and exports, and does not include any mechanisms for directly monitoring fisheries. The main points of the new programme are as follows:
Recording of catches. Under the terms of the proposal, member states will require a record of bluefin tuna catches, duly completed, for any quantity of bluefin tuna landed in its ports, delivered to its facilities or harvested in its facilities. Any consignment of bluefin tuna that has been traded internally, imported into the Community or been exported or re-exported from the Community must, the text says, have a certified catch record (or a certificate of bluefin tuna re-export). Landings, transfers, deliveries, harvests, internal trade, imports, exports and re-exports will not be permitted unless accompanied by a completed and certified catch record or a re-export certificate.
Certification. Member states will not certify the catch record unless: - it is established, after the load has been checked, that all the information on the catch record is correct; - the total amounts presented for certification do not exceed quotas or catch limits imposed for the management year, including, where appropriate, individual quotas allocated to vessels or to trap nets; - the bluefin tuna meets the standards set by ICCAT management and conservation measures.
Marking. Member states will, under the terms of the proposal, be able to require their catch vessels or trap nets to affix a mark to each bluefin tuna, preferably at the time it is caught, or, at the latest, when it is landed. These marks will be “tamper-proof” and will each contain a unique reference number indicating the member state and linked to catch records.
Re-exportation. The Commission proposes that member states ensure that any consignment of bluefin tuna re-exported from their territory carries a valid re-export certificate. If the fish is imported living farmed fish, a re-export certificate will not be required. It will be for the operator responsible for the re-exportation to complete the certificate, providing the information requested.
Checks. Member states will have to submit, to the Commission among others, a copy of all catch records and valid re-export certificates within five working days of their being certified. Member states will also have to send the Commission the contact details of the authorities responsible for certifying and checking catch records and re-export certificates (names, addresses), and an example of the record form. (L.C./transl.rt)