A sustainable fishing plan for swordfish is expected to be agreed upon by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna during a meeting in Malta this week.

The commission is holding a week-long conference to decide on a number of conservation measures for Tuna and “Tuna-like species”.

Among the measures  are fishing limits which would cover the total allowable catches, the maximum number of vessels, and the duration and location of fishing activities.

ICAAT is also reviewing the results of the stock assessments carried out this year.

The commission implemented a similar sustainability plan for Bluefin Tuna back in 2006 and has seen the species register an initial recovery after a rapid decline in the early 2000s.

Out of all the species monitored by ICAAT, nearly two thirds are overfished.

ICAAT is also expected to discuss measures to protect Blue Sharks, another species showing signs of deterioration.

Speaking during the opening of the conference, held at the Hilton in St Julian’s, European Commissioner on Fisheries Karmenu Vella said he hoped to see a number of loopholes, which allowed for certain forms of over fishing, to be closed in the coming months.

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