Commissioner Borg calls for action to protect Med. tuna

In the wake of fresh evidence that tuna stocks in the Mediterranean are being depleted due to over fishing, EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg yesterday called for concrete action to protect bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean.

Dr Borg's statement followed a warning issued by scientists last week that the fishing of bluefin tuna must be substantially cut if a collapse of stocks is to be avoided.

Following a meeting in Madrid, the standing committee on research and statistics of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, (ICCAT), recommended a reduction in fishing mortality and estimated that, at present, the fishing effort is more than three times the level that would provide optimum returns.

The ICCAT scientists' conclusions follow the publication of a report issued a few days before by the European branch of the World Wide Fund (WWF) which warned that bluefin tuna stocks will soon collapse if the current level of over fishing is maintained. The WWF report also implicated Malta, claiming tuna spotter planes were being flown out of the island illegally during June, and that illegally tuna caught in Libyan waters was being transferred to bluefin tuna farms in Malta. Both allegations have been dismissed by the government.

The European Commission yesterday intervened on the subject making it clear that some form of action has to be taken.

Dr Borg said scientists' findings have confirmed the fear expressed by the Commission on many occasions. "We need to maintain bluefin tuna fishing at sustainable levels and the Commission will continue to play a leading role in the international endeavours to protect bluefin tuna."

Dr Borg warned that success will finally depend on all interested parties coming up with a packet of measures aimed at initiating stock recovery and at effectively combating illegal fishing that threatens the future of the bluefin tuna fishery.

The Commission will study the scientific advice given on the situation and will consult with the member states and ICCAT on new measures that need to be introduced.

ICCAT scientists are recommending a series of measures to be taken at international level including an extension to the current seasonal closure of the fishery to cover the entire spawning period of May through July and a significant increase in the minimum landing size of up to 30kg.

The scientists also estimate that a short-term sustainable catch across the Mediterranean should be limited to 15,000 tonnes a year, effectively less than one-third of the current total.

A decision is expected to be taken next month during an ICCAT meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia.