Blue fin tuna consensus welcomed

The consensus achieved in Recife today at the annual ICCAT conference on measures to be taken for the conservation of Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean blue fin tuna (BFT) has been welcomed by the Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers.

The federation said the consensus was a victory for the environment and for the relevant fisheries.

“It means that the need to conserve the species has been balanced with the need to retain the fishery for generations to come.

“It is also a victory for ICCAT and the participating states.”

The conference accepted a proposal jointly sponsored by the European Union, Japan, Tunisia, Morocco and the ICCAT chairman providing for a reduction of the total allowable catch of BFT next year to go down from the present 19,950 tons to 13,500 tons.

It provided for further future reductions based on a new recovery plan which is yet to be developed.

If a serious threat of fishery collapse was detected, the commission would suspend the fishery.

The accepted recommendation made detailed provision for the reduction in the fishing fleets of the participating states to eliminate over capacity.

The fishing season for purse seiners would be further reduced to one month (from May 15 to June 15) whereas the existing five day allowance for bad weather was abolished.

The federation said that contrary to allegations made by a number of environmental NGO’s, ICCAT rose to the occasion and came up with sensible measures which would safeguard BFT and the fishing communities it sustained.