Tuna or no tuna?

That the state of bluefin tuna stock is not in good condition is regrettably true. That there has been, for a long time, a notable disregard for compliance and controls is a fact. It is also an established fact, however, that we recently entered a new chapter in compliance and controls.

Especially during the past two years, tough measures have been put in place within the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The EU has played a key role in the establishment and the tightening of the tough ICCAT recovery plan that is currently in place for bluefin tuna.

These measures are being implemented. Very strict monitoring and control measures are now imposed on both vessels and tuna farms. Vessels' movements are monitored via satellite. To be marketed, bluefin tuna has to be accompanied by documents that follow it from the fishing vessel to the tuna pen to the retailer. Fishermen, tug operators, farmers, retailers and importers all have to play their part in the proper application of the rules.

In the EU itself, the Commission set up the most comprehensive system of control and monitoring of any EU fisheries. While last year the Commission had to close the bluefin tuna fisheries early to ensure quotas were not overshot, this year member states closed the fisheries themselves once their quotas were about to be exhausted.

Moreover, member states have started to eliminate fleet overcapacity, which is the main cause for overfishing. For the first time in decades, we can say that we managed to change the way member states deal with this iconic fishery.

Will it be enough? Scientific advice in the autumn will tell. One thing is certain - success is more likely if the other nations concerned go through the same process and ensure full respect of the rules.

A lot has been said and reported lately about bluefin tuna. The European Commission recently agreed to 'provisionally' support a proposal by Monaco to list bluefin tuna in Annex 1 of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Such a listing, were it to happen, would translate into a total ban on the international trade of the species.

The fundamental point remains whether or not the criteria to justify such a ban are met.

The scientific advice now on the table is a year old and therefore does not take into account recent developments. New advice is needed. ICCAT will provide this in October. At its annual meeting in November, ICCAT will then have the opportunity to draw the necessary conclusions and act accordingly.

The Commission's provisional co-sponsorship of Monaco's proposal could therefore be revised in the coming months in the light of new the scientific advice and the appropriate measures agreed in ICCAT.

It is important that ICCAT rises to the challenge when it meets next in early-November. It may well be that, on the basis of scientific advice and ICCAT's action, the EU can decide that listing in Annex 1 of CITES is no longer warranted and accordingly withdraw its provisional co-sponsorship.

On the other hand, should the criteria for a CITES listing be fulfilled, the Commission would maintain its support for a trade ban.

The European Union's final decision, however, does not only depend on what the Commission's position may or may not be. In fact, on the EU side, the question regarding the listing of bluefin tuna in CITES involves two separate processes:

First, after Monaco's request for co-sponsorship, the European Commission provided a recommendation to member states regarding the reply that the EU should give. This is where we stand now. The member states will take a decision on this in an experts committee meeting on September 21.

Second, the position that the EU should take at the CITES meeting in March will then be decided by the EU Council of Ministers on the basis of a separate proposal by the Commission. This will be a comprehensive proposal based on the Commission's position following the ICCAT meeting in November, including the listing or otherwise of bluefin tuna in Annex 1 of CITES.

Ultimately, the final position of the EU as a whole will be established before the CITES meeting in March, and it will depend on what the Council of Ministers will decide. However, it is imperative that the Commission's final proposal and the decision taken by member states will be one that can deliver a rebuilding of bluefin tuna stock.

Dr Borg is European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.