E - Iccat

PANEL APPENDICES
21, 2003, to review and conduct training in procedures for collecting biological data on billfishes. Subsequently,
Grenada recommenced biological sampling of billfish caught by our fishing vessels in June 2003.
Still on the issue of billfishes, the Government of Grenada wishes to remind the Commission that Grenada’s
fishing fleet consists mainly of small wooden vessels powered by outboard motors and manually operated
longline reels. Our fishing fleet is therefore an artisanal fleet, and the majority of fishing operations are
conducted within Grenada’s coastal waters. Noting this, therefore, the Government of Grenada reiterates the
concern raised by the CARICOM representative when the compliance table for billfish was being reviewed
during the 13 th Special Meeting of the Commission. That is to say, it is Grenada’s understanding that the billfishrebuilding
program requires a reduction of blue marlin and white marlin landings caught by pelagic longline and
purse seine vessels that engage in large-scale mechanized operations. Such a reduction is assumed not to apply to
artisanal fisheries, including Grenada’s artisanal longline fishery, as this would represent a disproportionate
burden of conservation action, as well as ignore the special interest of the developing States that are usually
involved. The Government of Grenada would be very grateful, therefore, if the Commission could address this
issue as soon as possible, and correct the negative billfish catch currently attributed to our country.
In view of the importance of our large pelagic fishery, Grenada is very interested in becoming a Contracting
Party to ICCAT, or at least a Cooperating Party, in the near future.
We hope the preceding information will be received positively and also eliminate the Commission’s concerns
and misunderstanding of Grenada’s level of compliance with ICCAT´s management of tuna and tuna-like
species on which our economy, as a Small Island Developing State, is heavily dependent.
Thank you for your consideration and attention in this matter.
(signed)
The Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry and Fisheries
July 21, 2003
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